A Song at Dusk 2011

Lu Cong made this painting, A Song at Dusk, and it whispers to me of process, of looking and looking again. The paint is laid down so smoothly, it's almost like a photograph, but not quite. There’s a kind of soft focus, a gentle blurring around the edges, that reminds you it’s a painting. Notice the way the light catches her face, so subtly, and the soft glow of the city lights behind her. It’s all about atmosphere. The colors are muted, almost monochromatic, which lends a melancholic and reflective mood. Take a look at the shirt she is wearing. See how each square of the pattern is laid down with careful consideration of its adjacent color. It’s so delicate, so precise, it’s almost unbelievable. It reminds me of a Gerhard Richter, but with heart. Like Richter, Cong invites us to slow down, to really look, and to find beauty in the quiet moments.