Can Portrait No. 12

This original figurative sketch explores balance, gesture, and individuality through an angular, forward-leaning pose.

Zheng Hao’s The Can Archive imagines human observation as a process of visual compression. People enter through the artist’s eyes and are reduced into selected characteristics: posture, clothing, movement, proportion, and attitude.

In this work, the body is defined by opposing directional forces. The torso moves forward, the arms extend outward, and the lower body appears to shift beneath the upper mass. Together, these movements create a figure that seems momentarily unstable yet visually coherent.

The oversized coat amplifies this effect. Its broad, angular outline turns clothing into part of the body’s architecture, extending the figure beyond anatomical form and creating a more graphic silhouette.

This emphasis on structural gesture distinguishes the work from traditional portraiture. Facial likeness becomes secondary to the spatial behavior of the body.

Through Can Portrait No. 12, Zheng Hao considers how a fleeting physical attitude can become a lasting marker of individuality—compressed into a few lines but still capable of preserving a distinct human presence.

Can Portrait No. 12 captures a figure through imbalance, extension, and a sharply constructed silhouette. The subject leans forward while both arms extend outward in different directions, creating a pose that feels temporarily suspended between control and instability. A broad outer garment expands around the torso, forming angular shapes that contrast with the softer curves of the lower body. Rather than fixing the subject into a conventional standing portrait, Zheng Hao emphasizes the momentary organization of the body. The arms, shoulders, coat, and crossed lower stance combine into a structure that feels active even though the figure remains contained within the page. Within The Can Archive, each person is processed through the artist’s gaze and transformed into a distinct visual “can.” What is preserved is never the entire individual, but the feature that dominates the artist’s memory of them. In Can Portrait No. 12, that feature is balance—or the temporary loss of it. The figure becomes identifiable through the particular way the body leans, opens, and negotiates the surrounding space.

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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.