Can Portrait No. 15

This original figurative sketch explores anonymity, abstraction, and the instability of identity within portraiture.

Zheng Hao’s The Can Archive is based on a process of selection and compression. A person is observed, filtered through memory, and reconstructed as a simplified visual form. Inevitably, some information is preserved while other information disappears.

In Can Portrait No. 15, this process becomes especially visible.

The face is obscured by overlapping marks, preventing the viewer from accessing a clear expression or conventional likeness. In contrast, the figure’s silhouette, posture, and extended arm remain legible.

This imbalance raises a central question: how much of a person must remain visible for individuality to survive?

By disrupting the face while retaining the body, Zheng Hao separates identity from portrait likeness. The figure becomes less a depiction of a specific person and more a record of how that person has been processed through perception.

The work therefore occupies a space between figurative drawing and abstraction, where recognition remains possible even as personal detail begins to dissolve.

Can Portrait No. 15 captures a figure whose identity appears to dissolve at the very point where portraiture would normally begin: the face. The body is constructed with broad, economical lines. One arm extends outward, the torso is divided into simplified geometric areas, and the lower half expands into a wide, almost sculptural silhouette. Yet the face is treated differently. Instead of being carefully described, it is covered by a dense knot of expressive marks. This contrast shifts attention away from conventional likeness and toward the instability of recognition itself. Within The Can Archive, Zheng Hao imagines people entering through his eyes and being processed into different visual “cans.” Some figures are preserved through posture or clothing; others through gesture or body volume. In Can Portrait No. 15, what remains is more ambiguous. The figure is still present, but the face—the feature most commonly associated with personal identity—has become unreadable. The result transforms an observed individual into something closer to a visual memory: recognizable in outline, yet partially erased in detail.

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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.