Zeng Fanzhi

signed in Chinese and Pinyin and dated 2006

Private Collection, USA

This work is generally in good condition. Please note that it was not examined under ultraviolet light.
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In his newest works, Zeng continually experiments with the characteristics of different brush strokes, making them emanate the energy of control. It should be noted that Zeng is not simply trying to study the attributes of brushstrokes, rather he is trying to take advantage of those distinct features of traditional Chinese brushwork. The artist relinquishes any attempt to control the brushstroke and allows the brush to move and leave traces on the canvas with freedom. This approach essentially differs from the traditional abstract painting of the West. Once the artist discovered the structural impact of unconscious brushwork on the painting, the product of his creative activities underwent a transition. It was [with] this same approach that he painted a large volume of landscapes.

- Excerpt from an exhibition catalogue essay titled "From Moral to Creative Resistance: An Analysis of the Art of Zeng Fanzhi in 1989-2007", in the publication Zeng Fanzhi 1989-2007, published by Gallery Hyundai, 2007. Essay by Pi Li, Curator and co-founder of Universal Studios, Beijing.