Zeng
Fanzhi
Zeng Fanzhi, a Contemporary Chinese artist, has redefined the boundaries of Expressionist painting with his psychologically charged works. If you're looking for Zeng Fanzhi original prints and editions for sale or would like to sell, request a complimentary valuation and browse our network's most in-demand works.
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Biography
Born in 1964 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, Zeng Fanzhi displayed an early interest in art, particularly drawing and painting. Despite dropping out of school, his passion for visual expression led him to study oil painting at the Hubei Academy of Fine Arts, where he was influenced by German Expressionism.
Zeng's artistic journey began in the late 1980s, a period of significant social and economic change in China. His early works, characterised by raw emotion and bold brushstrokes, reflected the energies and tensions of a rapidly transforming society.
In 1993, Zeng moved to Beijing, a pivotal moment in his career’s trajectory. The contrast between his provincial upbringing and the capital city inspired new themes in his work, setting the stage for his rise to prominence in the international art scene.
Influenced by Romanticism, Cézanne, Picasso, Pop Art, and Chinese traditional painting, Zeng's work reflects his personal experiences. His Hospital and Meat series, informed by German Expressionism, mark key early achievements in his career. Drawing from scenes at a local hospital, these works feature distorted, oversized hands and intense emotional expressions, emphasising the patients' psychological states. Through expressive brushwork and deep red tones, Zeng conveys a bleak, sadomasochistic view of human suffering.
In the mid-1990s, Zeng transitioned to his Mask series, marking a distinct shift in his style. Unlike the raw emotion of his Hospital works, the Mask series portrays apathy and detachment. The masked figures uncannily reflect the alienation and banality in modern Chinese society. With more realistic hands and subdued expressions, the characters embody highly restrained, guised emotion. This series gained critical acclaim, propelling Zeng to international recognition.
As Zeng's reputation grew, so did the scope and ambition of his art. In the early 2000s, he began employing larger canvases. Expanding on the themes of identity explored in the Mask series, Zeng began experimenting with circular brushwork that blurred facial features, creating a screen-like effect in his 2003 We series. This technique represented the elusiveness of the self in contemporary society. The large-scale close-up portraits in the series maintained a sense of emotional detachment, while the swirling lines around the faces heightened the psychological tension within the works.
In recent years, Zeng has continued to push the boundaries of his practice. In 2019, he began working on his Sparkling Painting series, which represents a departure from his earlier works, embracing vibrant, abstract compositions filled with dynamic energy. The series features a combination of expressive brushstrokes and intricate patterns, where light and movement come together to create a shimmering, almost ethereal effect, further showcasing Zeng's evolving artistic style.