图饰暗色 2020

This densely worked painting, 图饰暗色, by 王新福, is made of thick strokes of oil paint. The sheer physicality of the painting is its most striking quality. The artist has used the oil paint almost sculpturally, building up the surface into a riot of textures. We see the viscous quality of the paint itself, troweled on with evident force. The earth tones, punctuated by dashes of black, create a somber mood, yet the sheer exuberance of the application is anything but depressing. It’s tempting to think about labor when looking at a painting like this. Though this is “fine art,” it has more in common with physical trades like plastering or masonry, where material is applied with urgency and directness. This connection to the history of craft reminds us that all creative work is fundamentally about doing, and challenges any highfalutin ideas about artistic genius. The painting invites us to consider the profound relationship between material, making, and meaning.