Zhang Yingnan (b.1981)
Night Breeze(Painted in 2020)
Oil on canvas
130 × 170 cm. 51 1/8 × 66 7/8 in.
Titled, dated and signed in Chinese on the reverse
Condensing the Unfinished Aspirations of the Reality and Energy Pertaining Contemporary Times
Night Breeze by Zhang Yingnan

Born in Shaanxi in 1981, Zhang Yingnan graduated from the Oil Painting Department of Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts in 2005. He is a shining star of Chinese contemporary art. His works contain high level of realism, surreal atmospheres that are full of juxtaposing loneliness and glimmers of hope; dualistic space of openness and reticence, arousing the sentiments deep within the viewers' hearts. In 2017, his work was acquired by the famous musician and collector Yao Chien. Subsequently his work was featured in the film poster of “My Dream Art” produced by Yao. Zhang Yingnan's works were sold out at Art Basel Hong Kong in 2020 and 2021. In recent years, Zhang Yingnan's works have achieved great results in auctions. For example, Song of Sunset was sold for over one million Hong Kong dollars in last fall auction, proving that his works are highly sought after.

Night Breeze creates vacant space and features the motif employed by Zhang Yingnan since 2016– "two gates." Half-opened in the piece, the two gates reveal the mountain path that extends to the scenery connecting mountains and the sea. The image bridges the confined human-made space with the boundless nature, inviting the viewers to explore the scenery beyond the small slit of the gates. The blue sky is portrayed with pink gleaming clouds, injecting a touch of warmth into the cool atmosphere of the painting. Then green grass along the coast and sand covering the uneven pathway sways and transfigures according to the wind. While the two gates are open, the pathway is blocked by two steel stanchions, creating an interesting contradiction that simultaneously conveys “welcome” and “no entry”. Zhang Yingnan once stated, “Modern society is becoming more convenient with rapidly evolving technologies. We have mobile phones and social media, but we are drifting apart, the distance growing non-stop.”The alienated interpersonal relationships and living status of contemporary people has been a constant subject of exploration for Zhang Yingnan. The theme is manifested in Night Breeze. The gates in the piece are an extended metaphor of two individuals depicting solitude and yearning to open-up while fearing hurt, resulting to the natural humanly instinct of self-defense, explicating the conflicting psychological state of contemporary people. The courage to tear down one's walls would allow one to fully immerse in the glorious night breeze. The piece is a motto encouraging one's deep musings.

張英楠 (b.1981)
晚風(二〇二〇年作)
油彩 畫布
130 × 170 cm. 51 1/8 × 66 7/8 in.
款識
《晚風》2020 張英楠 （畫背）

凝縮當代現實與精神的未竟之地
張英楠如歌的《晚風》

2020年，北京索卡在新改裝的現代空間所舉辦的首個開幕大展「齊觀」中，入口迎面而來以單一牆面重點突出呈現的作品，便是張英楠的《晚風》。1981年出生於陝西山村，2005年畢業於西安美術學院油畫系的張英楠，是中國當代藝術中一個亮眼的新星。其作品以高度的寫實功力、超現實的幽微畫境、靜謐如詩地在充斥孤寂的疏離中又帶著一絲希望，於開放與閉鎖的二元相悖空間中，冷不防地挑動觀者的心房，帶給人心靈的撼動和精神的思索。

張英楠2017年首次初試啼聲，在聯展中其作品《鏡心》即被著名音樂人暨收藏家姚謙購藏，並由其上百件收藏品中被挑選作為其後監製的《一個人的收藏》電影海報封面，而在2020至2022年香港巴塞爾藝術博覽會中，張英楠之作在展間大受好評並旋即售罄。近年於拍賣市場上屢創佳績，如《黃昏之歌》在去年秋拍以逾百萬港幣拍出，備受藏家追捧。

《晚風》一作，在靜寂的無人空間中，藝術家沿襲自2016年便不斷在創作中運用相互對應的建築結構――「兩道大門」，在此半敞，眼見門外一條山徑延伸到山海相連的景緻，把有限的人造居所與廣邈的自然瞬間串聯，吸引觀者向前深探，當中澄藍的天空大氣低垂，白色雲朵泛著粉紅色的光彩，為此藍灰冷色調的畫境注入一絲浪漫的氣息和溫度。而沿岸的綠草和路道上所覆蓋呈波浪狀的沙質，指涉著風動的氣息。兩扇門雖是打開的，但外頭又有一由鐵鍊串起的阻擋物，使作品生成了一種在「歡迎前進」與「禁止進入」間有趣的欲拒迎還，耐人尋味。張英楠曾言：「現代社會隨科技變化越發便捷，我們有了移動電話和網絡社交，但人與人之間的距離卻越來越遠。」當代疏離的人際關係、生存的狀態是藝術家一直關心的主題，對應至《晚風》，作品中的兩扇門，正如同擬人化的兩個個體，言說了人生而孤獨，但在寂寞中欲敞開心扉，又深怕受傷害欲自我保護的微妙而細膩的心理狀態，然而，唯有勇於跨越或下放那圍籬，才能深入其中，感受如晚風襲來的美好。作品如同一箴言，引人探尋再三。