Where is the Mr. Ting? 1986

Walasse Ting, a Chinese-American artist, probably made "Where is the Mr. Ting?" using acrylic on canvas. Ting lived through immense cultural change, including World War II, the Chinese Communist Revolution, and the Cultural Revolution. The figure in this painting is surrounded by vibrant blooms of colour, as if hiding within a garden. Their skin is depicted in shades of yellow, which gives it a warm and inviting feeling. Ting's work is often associated with the "naive" movement in art, characterized by a childlike simplicity and directness. This particular painting feels intimate, as though we are invited into a private moment of reverie. Consider what it means for a Chinese artist to work in the Western art world, and how Ting navigated questions of identity and representation through his paintings. The emotional depth of this work invites you to reflect on beauty, fragility, and identity.