This painting was created in 2020, the year I just graduated from college and was in a period of transition. The subject matter and style of painting continued from my college days.
Qin is my good friend, and this painting is also a parting gift. It is my first time to create a male figure painting.
Inches: x in
Size without the frame: x cm
Country: China
Date: 2023
Materials: Oil paint on linen
Condition: well preserved
Creative themes and style | My works revolve around the creative concept of "The land of humanity, People on the land". The people in the painting are people in nature, and the lines, shapes, and colors are close to nature. The nature in the painting is nature in the eyes of humans, existing in interaction with humans.I don’t pursue a series of works with a fixed and continuous style. I hope that the style of the pictures will synchronize with the changes in my life and always remain oscillating. The performance of the work must be in sync with the development of one's own life in order to be Sincere and powerful. Ideas are later.
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This work, The Stumbling Block of Urban Architecture, focuses on the indoor figure and environment. The figure’s posture is relaxed, concentrating on the thing in hand. The sofa and small stool beside, and the uniquely - shaped objects and “architectural” elements (such as the shape of the railing and stool) in the background are intertwined, constructing a daily yet absurd - feeling scene. In terms of composition, the figure occupies the visual center, and the surrounding elements are distributed in a surrounding manner.
The “architecture - related” objects in the background and the figure in the foreground form a spatial echo, breaking the regularity of conventional indoor composition and creating visual tension. The color application tends to be subjectively blended on the basis of realism. Neutral tones such as gray and brown are dominant, and the color of the figure’s clothing is slightly more prominent. It not only fits the daily atmosphere but also distinguishes objects through color layers. The painting style has traces of expressionism. With rough brushstrokes and deformed object contours, it strengthens subjective feelings. It is not a reproduction of reality but a presentation after extracting emotions.
The emotional expression is implicit. The figure’s concentration and the “unconventional” combination of the environment seem to metaphor the ignored individual state in urban life, the collision between those tiny existences like “stumbling blocks” and the complex environment. For similar artists, we can think of Lucian Freud. He uses realistic yet subjectively expressive figure depictions to explore human nature and survival states. In focusing on the individual and conveying deep - seated emotions through daily scenes, this painting has similar explorations. Using a seemingly ordinary indoor corner, it tells of the individual’s loneliness, contemplation, and subtle confrontation and integration with the surrounding environment in the urban context, allowing viewers to savor the complex flavors of urban life in the details.
The act of lighting a cigarette gives the figure an introspective, almost withdrawn presence. By avoiding direct eye contact with the viewer, the scene radiates a sense of privacy and inner isolation. This posture reinforces the metaphor of a “stumbling block,” suggesting that certain thoughts or emotions obstruct his connection with the outside world.
The flying bird creates a sharp contrast with the figure’s stillness. It feels like an intrusion from a dream, symbolizing sudden freedom or chaos that disrupts the space. Its position suggests a “psychological escape,” functioning as an external projection of the figure’s inner world.
The reflected scene in the mirror does not match the immediate reality, functioning as a glimpse into another dimension. The easel and flowers symbolize artistic creation and emotional refuge, elements absent in the physical space but revealed through reflection. This displacement adds a deeper layer of metaphor to the composition.
As a contemporary oil painting that blends realism and surrealist elements, this work is well-suited for modern residences or private art collections. It especially appeals to collectors drawn to the interplay of everyday life and symbolic imagery. Displayed in a study, private gallery, or an intimate corner, the work enhances its introspective aura.
The title “Stumbling Block” acts as a metaphor for both the clutter of visual elements and the invisible obstacles of the psyche. The figure’s posture, the bird’s sudden intrusion, and the mirror’s misaligned dimension all symbolize uncertainty and unease—echoing the unseen impediments of modern urban life.
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