ZENG FANZHI (B. 1964)

“1997 marked a drastic turn in the Mask Series, which shifted from the painterly texture of masks, oversized hands, and crumpled clothes to strength ened flatness, delicacy of glossy surfaces, and accurately delineated figures. Dark brown is replaced by bright, almost primary raw colors. To seek a semblance of flamboyant yet illusory theatrical grandeur, Mask Series 1997 no. 0 for the first time replaces the more usual scarlet with soft pink and smooths the lumpy and sculptural relief texture on the face of the portrayed figure.” – Zeng Fanzhi Catalogue Raisonné