Artwork Description

Title: Head
Artist: Guo Wei (Chinese, b. 1960)
Date: 2012
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 27.6 x 39.4 in (70 x 100 cm)

Artwork Identification
Head is a compelling oil painting by Guo Wei, a leading figure in contemporary Chinese art known for his incisive portrayals of youth and alienation. This work captures the tension and ambiguity of adolescence, presenting a subject whose expression is deliberately ambiguous—hovering between defiance, vulnerability, and introspection.

Artistic Style and Influences
Guo Wei’s style is rooted in realism but deliberately distorts and obscures facial features to evoke emotional distance and societal estrangement. His nuanced use of color and light enhances the psychological intensity of the composition. The painting’s raw and poignant atmosphere aligns with themes common in contemporary Chinese art that grapple with individual identity amid rapid social change.

Historical Context
Created within the context of China’s post-reform era, Head reflects the isolation and disaffection faced by younger generations growing up in a society marked by political control and cultural transformation. Guo Wei’s works often serve as metaphors for broader societal conditions, particularly the disconnection felt by youth navigating China’s urban environments and the pressures of modernization.

Provenance and Authenticity
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

Condition and Conservation
The painting is in excellent condition, with a stable surface and vibrant, well-preserved colors.

Artistic Significance
Head exemplifies Guo Wei’s powerful exploration of adolescence, alienation, and the fractured self within contemporary Chinese society. His unique ability to combine realistic representation with psychological depth makes this work a significant and evocative piece within his oeuvre and the wider discourse of contemporary art addressing youth and identity.