黑灰中的一种形态 1996

Xu Hongming made this artwork, titled 黑灰中的一种形态, by layering forms of black and gray into a kind of shape. I imagine Xu in the studio, pushing paint around the surface. The paint is thick and has texture. It seems like the painting has come into being, shifting and emerging through trial, error, and intuition. It reminds me of the abstract paintings of Agnes Martin and their delicate grids. Each gesture in this piece seems to communicate a certain feeling or intention, a kind of quietness that is somehow both still and full of potential. Ultimately, artists like Xu are in an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time. They are inspiring one another’s creativity. This artwork is a form of embodied expression that embraces ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations and meanings.