Маленький мальчик 2006

Editor: This is Zeng Fanzhi’s "Boy," painted in 2006 using oil paint. At first glance, I’m struck by the almost claustrophobic composition and the contrast between the stark branches and the faint figure within. What do you make of its formal qualities? Curator: The intricate network of lines, built through layering, dominates the canvas. We see a complex interplay of form and space. Observe how the density of the interwoven branches creates a flattening effect, pushing the figure almost to the picture plane, a formal technique reminiscent of cubist strategies of spatial compression. Editor: So, the depth is deliberately ambiguous? I also noticed that color seems to play a minimal role. Curator: Precisely. Colour here is subservient to form and texture. The limited palette – dominated by blues and grays – allows the artist to foreground the materiality of the paint and the dynamism of his brushwork. This restricted colour scheme amplifies the visual complexity of the textured surface. Note the staccato rhythm established by the repetition of these branches. Editor: It’s almost a screen; you can barely see the figure behind it. I guess the emotional resonance arises from that tension – seeing but not seeing. Is there an internal logic in the composition that lends itself to Expressionism, despite the monochromatic approach? Curator: Yes. While it might not have the vibrant colour associated with, say, early Expressionism, it shares a kindred spirit through its gestural application and emotive weight. We might consider the semiotics of concealment: the formal means reflecting, perhaps, psychological states of unease or alienation. How the figure relates to it. Editor: I see. I focused initially on what it depicts but realize the impact comes from how those forms interact. Curator: Exactly! It's a constant dialogue between representation and abstraction, between surface and depth. The key is in decoding its compositional language, like the texture of its paint strokes and limited color, to unearth something fascinating!