Серия "Маски" 

Editor: So, here we have Zeng Fanzhi’s “Mask Series”, an intriguing acrylic on canvas work. There’s a group of figures wearing unsettling, mask-like smiles. Despite the seemingly cheerful facade, there’s something unsettling about the uniformity. What exactly do you see in this piece, and what's your take on that jarring contrast? Curator: Well, my friend, isn't it the theatrical stage of life itself, painted in broad, bold strokes? To me, Zeng is holding up a mirror, reflecting back our own performances. He’s showing how we sometimes hide behind social masks, perhaps to conform or to protect ourselves. That vibrant yellow backdrop, almost aggressively cheerful, amplifies the irony. It asks: are these children genuinely happy, or are they just playing their roles? Notice how each mask, while similar, possesses unique cracks, slightly different expressions. Editor: So you see a commentary on conformity? I’m struck by how the red scarves – like symbols of youthful innocence – clash with those stark masks. It's disturbing. Curator: Disturbing is precisely the sensation Fanzhi wanted to evoke, I think. What could these masks hide, conceal? The anxieties, uncertainties, maybe the crushing weight of societal expectations, all while plastered with an ever-smiling mask. Editor: That's such a compelling interpretation! I hadn't thought about societal pressures that way before. Curator: Art whispers truths in disguises, darling. And this one screams with a disquieting grin. Food for thought, isn’t it? Editor: Definitely food for thought. I'm leaving here seeing not just masks, but stories behind them. Curator: Precisely, and maybe, just maybe, recognizing our own reflection there too. The most rewarding thing about art.