Writing 2005

Zhang Xiaogang created this painting, called Writing, using soft brushstrokes to depict an intimate, yet unsettling scene. The palette is muted, except for a startling, bright red hand. I find myself drawn to the surface of the painting, which is matte, like it's been scrubbed, or even aged. The paint application is thin, almost transparent in places, creating a subtle texture that invites you closer, yet holds you at a distance. The artist obscures the process by using soft edges that leave the hand floating on the grey surface like a disembodied thought. Look at the sharp nib of the pen held by the red hand, poised over the open notebook. It feels like the moment of decision, before the hand commits to filling the page. The use of red seems to bring a sense of warning and urgency to the composition. The painting reminds me of Luc Tuymans' muted palette and exploration of the hidden and the uncomfortable. Like his work, Zhang opens a space of contemplation, rather than closure, highlighting that art is an ongoing conversation across time.