Which interpretation(s) of the artist’s work (or from the curatorial text) do you agree or disagree with? You may use any of the sources to support you answer. Do give reference to the paintings-use of composition, colour, brushstorkes and principles of art (emphasis, focal point, unity, rhythm, balance)

Artwork: Chinese Portrait Series

Since 2000, Feng Zhengjie has been producing large-scale oil protraits of galmourous women. His works are striking,depicting women in close-up. His paintings reflect a vision of futuristic pop.

It is said that his use of vivid colours has “displayed emotions of joy and elation but also create feelings of misgiving and unease” and I agree with the curatiorial texts. The colours of his palette are luring, mainly consist of red and turquoise,which  clashes with each other when put together. The enticing hues had caught the viewer attention but the acidic tones had in turn also rendered a great deal of unease and sceptic. It raises questions about the definition of beauty and its relationship to being superficial  and vanity. Their richly hued, wind machine hair and luscious intense coloured lips make them appear irresistibly dazzling. However, the exotic colours also possessed an ominous aura that seems unnatural.

Also, Feng Zhengjie trademark diverging eyes of the women have made them appear frivolous and vacant. The wabdering expressions in their eyes make them difficult to read and thus, render them enigmatic.

The acidic tones used had created a promotional imagery with the atypical coloured hair and luscious lips, “a representation, of the commercial nature of modern China”.Simultaneously enchanting and repulsive, these portraits suggest the contradictions of an emotionally complex, individual existence in a superficial consumer society, living under a facade.

Eventhough his paintings “depict traditional symbols with exaggerated gaiety, they also critique the excesses of comtemporary China.” This reflects a contradiction of China threading uncomfortably between capitalism and communism. This may be the result of China going partially capitalistic and during the period of China’s movement during capitalism, women becoming more sensual. “The paintings are rendered with almost air-brushed precision which have adual effect on the viewer.” Brushstroke are hardly visible in the portraits, texture is not created and therefore, the almost air-brushed precision has also contributed to the surreal feel of the viewer.

 Neither western nor Chinese in appearance, his subjects are a “super-hybrid of commercial beauty, a science fiction product of globalisation.” And this may be due to the more fashionable products available, the western influence because of China’s globalisation.

His thick white and subdued tone of outline of the shape has created an electrified auras around the woman protrayed. The outline and the exotic colours used on the object and the background had made the subjects in the protraits seemed surreal.

The subjects are in close up and thus little space is left with the background also being painted with rich hues. The protraits are quite balanced as the fiqures occupied most of the area of canvas and the canvas is covered with enticing hues throughout including the background. Shading of the fiqures are painted with the subdued tone of red or turquoise. Thus, depth is being created and contributed to the tangibility of the fiqures. The background is painted flat without any shadows and therefore makes the fiqures the emphasis of the protraits.

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