Artwork Description

Title: Face the Wall
Artist: Guo Wei (Chinese, b. 1960)
Date: 2013
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 39.4 x 31.5 in (100 x 80 cm)

Artwork Identification
Face the Wall is a powerful oil painting by Guo Wei, a renowned contemporary Chinese artist whose work explores themes of alienation, identity, and the psychological struggles of youth in modern China. This piece vividly conveys the emotional isolation experienced by individuals within a rapidly transforming society.

Artistic Style and Influences
Guo Wei employs a realistic yet subtly distorted figurative style, highlighting the ambivalence and vulnerability of adolescence. His subjects often bear indistinct or obscured features, evoking a sense of disconnection and introspection that resonates universally. His work blends social critique with deeply personal emotional insight.

Historical and Cultural Context
Emerging from China’s socio-political upheavals since the late 20th century, Guo Wei’s paintings address the dislocation and identity crises facing younger generations navigating the pressures of urbanization, ideology, and modernization. Face the Wall encapsulates this tension, reflecting broader narratives of societal transformation and individual resilience.

Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

Condition Report
The painting is in excellent condition with a well-preserved surface and vibrant color quality.

Artistic Significance
Face the Wall exemplifies Guo Wei’s unique ability to merge emotive portraiture with social commentary, creating a compelling reflection on the complexities of identity and alienation in contemporary China. The work stands as a testament to his enduring relevance and impact in the global contemporary art scene.