Portrait, 2004, oil on canvas. [Photo provided to China Daily]

"I didn't know who I could communicate with, and was confused and emotionally unstable," he says. It was during the period that he started painting the Mask Series, which earned significant recognition around the world. He ended the series in 2004 because he "no longer felt that way".

The remaining three sections, which are shown on the third floor, offer diverse perspectives on Zeng's continuous artistic exploration.

The second section, Different Paths, juxtaposes paintings of different types and themes, reflecting Zeng's experimentation with various genres in painting.

The third section, Painting as Contemplation, reflects the tranquil inner world of the artist, who reproduces his personal experiences on the canvas by

repeatedly depicting a series of specific themes. Cheng Er, a renowned film director and friend, created visual and auditory add-ons to complement this segment of the show.

Sparkling Paintings — Water V, 2019-2023, oil on canvas. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The final section, titled The Monumentals, is located in a bright exhibition hall at the museum.

Featuring the monumental artworks Zeng created over the past decade, this section is designed to present a dynamic dialogue between the paintings and the natural light in the expansive space. Visitors can enjoy the details of these artworks from various distances, whether they move around them, or stand still in front of them, says Hergott.

The subject matter and visual elements portrayed by Zeng stem from his sensibility, visual experiences, and years of continuous exploration of different themes in the annals of global art history, says Hergott.

"As they are magnified several times over and then deconstructed, a new painterly vocabulary is formed, signifying the infinite space that painting continues to traverse in the contemporary context," he says.

If you go:

Zeng Fanzhi: Old and New (Paintings 1988-2023)

Sept 27-March 8, 2024, Monday-Sunday, 10 am-9 pm (last admission at 8 pm).

Museum of Art Pudong, 2777 Binjiang Avenue, Pudong New Area, Shanghai.

400-820-8771.