人态三 1994

Xu Hongming made this painting, "人态三", using what looks like layers and layers of repetitive marks on a grid. It’s like the painting came into being through the sheer force of repetition, a kind of meditative act. I'm imagining Xu Hongming in the studio, maybe a bit lost, trying to find a way through the canvas. What does it mean to make the same mark over and over? Is it about control, or about letting go? That single, worm-like gesture keeps on keeping on. I'm reminded of Agnes Martin and her grids, but this is looser, more organic. Each little squiggle feels like a breath, a tiny moment of existence. It's all about the physicality of the medium—the way the brush moves, the texture of the paint. Each gesture feels like a conversation with other painters, a silent exchange of ideas across time. It's about finding a space of imagination around the artwork, where ambiguity and uncertainty allow for endless interpretations.