Can Portrait No. 09

This original figurative sketch explores movement, bodily rotation, and identity through dynamic gesture.

Zheng Hao’s The Can Archive is based on the idea that people are transformed through perception. The artist does not attempt to preserve every visible detail; instead, he extracts the characteristics that remain most strongly in memory.

In this work, those characteristics are kinetic.

The turning torso, backward glance, and sweeping clothing create an image that depends on motion rather than stillness. Identity is expressed through the way the figure changes direction and occupies space during that brief transition.

The loose, layered lines are central to the work. Rather than correcting movement into a fixed contour, Zheng Hao allows multiple traces to remain visible, preserving the uncertainty and energy of the gesture.

Through Can Portrait No. 09, portraiture becomes less about facial likeness and more about the memory of an action—a person remembered through the particular way their body moved at a specific moment.

Can Portrait No. 09 captures a figure in the middle of a turning movement. The body twists across the page, while the head looks back toward the viewer. Loose clothing expands around the torso and legs, creating a sense of rotation that is reinforced by the sweeping, overlapping lines of the drawing. Rather than presenting a stable pose, Zheng Hao records a transitional moment. The figure appears caught between one direction and another, with the body still moving even as the face briefly turns back. This instability gives the work a strong sense of immediacy. The drawing feels less like a posed portrait and more like an observation made in passing—a fleeting gesture transformed into a lasting image. Within The Can Archive, each person is processed through the artist’s gaze and compressed into a distinct visual “can.” In Can Portrait No. 09, what is preserved is movement itself: the rotation of the body, the direction of the gaze, and the temporary shape created by clothing in motion.

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Each artwork is carefully prepared and securely packaged to help ensure safe delivery. Protective wrapping, reinforced corner protection, and sturdy outer packaging are used to safeguard the artwork throughout transit. Package Dimensions: 34 × 42 × 9 cm Package Weight: 0.8 kg If you require custom framing or professional mounting services, please contact us by email before placing your order or prior to shipment. As framing requirements, packaging specifications, destination, and shipping conditions may vary for each artwork, framing and shipping costs will be individually assessed and quoted on a per-artwork basis. Our team will recommend an appropriate packing and shipping solution based on the specific work to help ensure it arrives safely and ready for your space.

As an original sketch on paper, this artwork should be displayed and stored with particular attention to light, humidity, and surface protection. Keep the work away from direct sunlight and prolonged exposure to strong artificial light, as excessive UV exposure may gradually discolor the paper and affect the drawn surface. Display the artwork in a stable indoor environment away from excessive humidity, heat, and significant temperature fluctuations. Avoid positioning it near radiators, fireplaces, air-conditioning vents, or damp areas. For long-term display, archival-quality matting and backing materials together with UV-protective glazing are recommended. The artwork should not come into direct contact with non-archival adhesives or acidic materials. Avoid touching the drawing surface with bare hands. When handling is necessary, carefully hold the sheet by its edges with clean, dry hands or appropriate protective gloves.