WANG YAN CHENG (CHINA, B. 1960)

The primary tone of Untitled is a mired expanse of rich blackness, with varying brushstrokes that carry a hint of Chinese ink wash painting techniques. Between the layers one finds thick, textured brown oil paint, with streaks of brownish yellow flowing down. In the background, there is an area of brooding pressure that seems to be getting ready to explode, like the beginning of creation, when the universe's most fundamental forces are fighting, growing, and brewing. In this work, we catch a glimpse of the artist's nuanced control over oil paint, showing off different ways in which the medium can be used. He continuously creates and breaks apart the balance between colours. A few splashes of red give the scene an ever-evolving dynamism. The flashes of mustard yellow also subtly contrast with the dark navy grey. Among the synergy of the brushstrokes, contrast between colours, and morphing of compositional elements, one sees a novel and poetic picture of abstractionism.