This is a catalogue of Zeng Fanzhi’s Behind Masks series. As remarked by the contributors, the paintings in this series show a strong departure from the masochistic quality, the disturbing palette and the bold brushwork from the earlier period. Now, there is a sense of detachment and rationalism, expressed through a restrained technique and the presence of masks. The latter reveals a sense of isolation and distance in human relationships. This effect is further accentuated by the flat background, the unexplainable shadows and the traces of light coming from nowhere, which as a result, eradicate the audience’s feeling of familiar reality. Zeng has once declared, ‘I only want to paint what appears in the depths of my soul.’ In this series of paintings, one finds Zeng’s new means in expressing his sense of life. At the same time, it marks a new stage in his artistic development.

Artist biography is included.

這是曾梵志「假面」系列的展覽圖錄。多名撰稿人提到，這批作品的風格與畫家早期作品中的受虐傾向、令人不安的色調和奔放自如的筆法迥然有別。他採用含蓄內歛的技巧和假面這一主題，為新作注入了抽離和理性的色彩。畫中的面具凸顯了人與人之間的淡漠和疏離，而平塗的背景、突兀的陰影和不知從何而來的光線使這種感覺更為強烈，觀眾被暫時抽離他們所熟悉的現實世界。曾梵志曾坦言，他只「重視在自己的作品中表現內在的真實，注重人的心理描繪，用一種感情的符號傳達我的情緒」。 通過「假面」系列，他顯然已找到新的途徑，來表達自己對生命的感悟。與此同時，這批作品亦標誌着曾梵志的藝術創作已踏入一個新的階段。本圖錄亦載有藝術家的簡歷。