Mao Image in Rose 1992

Yu Youhan made this painting of Mao, entitled 'Mao Image in Rose', using flat blocks of acrylic on canvas. It's interesting, right? How history gets filtered through a painter’s sensibility. The way Yu uses the paint is so matter-of-fact. He isn't trying to trick you into thinking it’s anything other than paint on canvas. You can see the edges of the shapes, where one color bumps up against another. It's all very deliberate. And yet, there's a looseness, too. Look at the way the pink of Mao's face merges with the red of the background. It’s not a smooth transition; you can see the brushstrokes, the hand of the artist at work. This reminds me of Elizabeth Murray, another painter who wasn’t afraid to mix the serious with the playful. Both artists embrace ambiguity and multiple interpretations. They remind us that art is not about fixed meanings, but about opening up spaces for thought and feeling.