Each of Ping He’s abstracted portraits is a chameleon of shifting facets, always solid but never static. The artist builds his forms almost sculpturally out of large brushstrokes which come together from all points on the color wheel to construct something ultimately harmonious and all the more powerful for its conflicting parts. A person is certainly visible, but has taken on added energy and movement, becoming more than a real world reference point. The images have a timeless confidence and regality, but they are not silent. In every streak and new bold color, Ping He brings his work to the forefront of vivid modern painting.
Ping He, who works in acrylic paint on both canvas and linen, has practiced calligraphy since childhood and cites its graceful lines as an influence. He works in his hometown of Shanghai, where he continues to mix the historical culture of China, including ancient pictographs and color orders, with the country’s present-day vibrancy. “The theme is contemporary Chinese people,” he explains, “with a passion for life and a positive mentality.”