A few years ago, I began a series titled “Little Men”. Using large faces, imprecise features, and cartoon-like body language,... Read More
A few years ago, I began a series titled “Little Men”. Using large faces, imprecise features, and cartoon-like body language, I depicted individual characters one by one. This exploration made me aware of how the hearts inside these tiny human beings often feel unsettled and empty in the real world. Finally, I ended the series with this somewhat somber oil painting. I think this piece can be seen as a weighty reflection from myself as an adult.
This painting combines figures and time-space in an atypical perspective. In the lower left corner, the figure turning his head to the right is myself. As an observer, I deeply feel the indescribable connections I have with what I observe and with my surroundings. A large sofa carries my small body, becoming a metaphorical act of seeking temporary safety. On the right side of the painting is a group of people beneath a cloud shaped like a hollow, wandering in a daze, unsure where they are going.
I divided the canvas into several different areas with straight lines, intending to break conventional perspective structures. I have studied non-perspective techniques in ancient Chinese painting, which allowed me to give each figure its own role within the composition, and also let the temporal-spatial effect of the painting spread outward beyond the canvas itself.
