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About the artwork
This painting by Ren Zhenyu depicts a Chinese policeman, who smiles brightly as he gazes downwards. While the subject appears cheerful, the largely monochromatic and cool toned colour palette conveys a subtle sense of wistfulness and nostalgia, that leaves the viewer with thoughts to ponder. The paint is thickly applied to the canvas, imbuing the work with dynamism that brings it to life, and creating a unique texture that heightens the visual experience for viewers, as if the artist has captured a fleeting moment that is soon to disappear into the past.
About the artist
Born in Tianjin in 1976, Ren Zhenyu graduated in 1999 from the Oil Painting Department at Tianjin Academy of Fine Art, where he currently works as a lecturer. His talent was recognized and appreciated by renowned galleries and distinguished collectors throughout China, and he achieved fame in Europe through his distinct portrait series of historical and political icons, such as Andy Warhol and Chairman Mao. In his works, Ren plays with a wide spectrum of colours that are juxtaposed to create a unique expressionist interpretation of famous faces and experiments with texture and layering built on to reinforce the portrayal of faces from different perspectives.