Can Portrait No. 11

This original figurative sketch explores performance, gesture, and identity through the relationship between the human body and an object associated with music-making.

Zheng Hao’s The Can Archive treats observation as a process of compression. The artist receives people through sight, processes them through memory and drawing, and transforms them into simplified visual records.

In this work, the figure is not defined by appearance alone. The position of the arms and the accordion-like object across the torso create a recognizable activity, turning the subject into both portrait and performer.

The repeated linear structure of the central object also introduces a strong visual rhythm. These parallel marks contrast with the softer outline of the body and the broad shape of the trousers, giving the drawing an internal sense of movement.

This distinction is important within the series. Some “cans” preserve posture, others clothing or silhouette; here, an action becomes the defining information.

Through Can Portrait No. 11, Zheng Hao considers how occupation, habit, performance, and the objects people interact with become inseparable from the way they are observed and remembered.

Can Portrait No. 11 presents a standing figure whose identity is shaped through gesture, rhythm, and the act of performance. The subject faces the viewer while holding a ribbed, accordion-like form across the torso. Both arms become part of the central visual structure, creating a compact relationship between body and object. Below, the wide trousers extend the figure vertically, while subtle shifts in stance keep the composition from becoming static. Rather than describing every detail of the scene, Zheng Hao concentrates on the features that make the person immediately memorable: the frontal posture, the position of the arms, the rectangular instrument-like form, and the rhythm created by repeated lines. Within The Can Archive, people enter through the artist’s gaze and are transformed into individual visual “cans.” Each drawing preserves a different configuration of body, character, action, and appearance. In Can Portrait No. 11, identity is closely connected to what the figure is doing. Performance becomes part of portraiture, allowing action and object to become as important as the face itself.

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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.