Can Portrait No. 35

This original figurative sketch explores movement, balance, and individuality through a female figure in motion.

Zheng Hao’s The Can Archive treats observation as a process of visual compression. Each person is reduced into the details that remain most strongly in memory.

In this work, those details are kinetic.

The extended leg, upward gaze, and flowing garment create a figure that feels caught between steps. The body is not posed symmetrically; instead, it is defined by transition.

This emphasis on movement distinguishes the work from the more static fashion studies in the series. Clothing here functions not only as identity, but also as a record of motion. Its lines respond to the body’s changing balance and help preserve the rhythm of the moment.

Through Can Portrait No. 35, Zheng Hao turns walking into a form of portraiture, suggesting that a person can be remembered through the particular way they move just as strongly as through their face or clothing.

Can Portrait No. 35 captures a female figure through forward movement, upward gaze, and a fluid sense of bodily rhythm. The subject appears to be walking, with the torso leaning slightly back while the head tilts upward. One leg extends forward, while the other remains grounded beneath the flowing lower garment. This shifting balance gives the drawing a strong sense of motion without relying on dense detail. Zheng Hao allows the clothing to amplify the movement. The outer layer opens around the torso, while the lower silhouette stretches and bends with the stride. Large earrings and the lifted head add further individuality to the figure, turning a passing movement into a distinct visual memory. Within The Can Archive, each person is processed through the artist’s gaze and transformed into a different visual “can.” In Can Portrait No. 35, what is preserved is not a static likeness, but a moment of movement—one defined by stride, posture, clothing, and direction.

Discover more works by Zheng Hao →

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.