INTRODUCTION FRIDA KAHLO

In this comparative study I will compare two artists, Zhang Xiaogang and Frida Kahlo Born on July 6th 1907 in Mexico to
who belong to very different cultures and time periods yet they manage to create Wilhelm and Matilde.Her father had
similar works in order to express their personal lives. While their working styles are migrated Mexico and married her
different the aspect of surrealism is evident in works by both the artists. While mother..At age of 6 she was diagnosed
analyzing their work I will study one of my own pieces with respect to their styles. I will With polio causing her to be bedridden.
study the cultural,social and artistic values of the artworks. The major focus of my After recovering from the illness she was
study will be on the depiction of personal political and cultural conditions that impact left crippled as the disease lead to
their artworks damage to her right leg and foot. While
at school she surrounded herself with
politically and intellectually like-minded students. On
ZHANG XIAOGANG September 17th 1925 the collision of the bus she was on
A Chinese painter/sculptor born in 1958, in the far south west of China, with a streetcar lead to several serious injuries including
his parents were state officials. An artist of the Chinese Avant-garde. A fractures in her spine and pelvis. She discovered her love
lot of his art has been largely influenced by the growth of contemporary for art as a method of recovery from the accident that left
art in China, as his artistic development took place in the Chinese her with almost nothing this was largely influenced by her
cultural revolution. His youth was largely affected by the revolution thus father who was a photographer. Her relationship with
even in his recent works the effects of that era are seen. Just like others Diego Rivera was an integral part of her life it influenced
his parents were constantly questioned by the government ”‘every night her art and also her outlook of life. As her relationship
people came to our house and asked my parents to make confessions almost came to an end due to Rivera’s affair with her
about what they did wrong”. Zhang was motivated towards art by his sister, Frida went through a dark phase that lead to a
mother, who in order to keep him out of trouble made him do art. He great artistic development. Even through the lows in her
was separated from his family as a part of the Down to Countryside life her art gained popularity, her health gradually
Movement. He then became a student of watercolourist Lin Ling. deteriorated and lead to her death. Though the attempt of
“When I was 17, I told myself I wanted to be an artist.. I felt that art was suicide is still under question.
like a drug. Once you are addicted, you can’t get rid of it” 1 . Through his
artist development his paintings have varied largely from displaying a http://sites.psu.edu/unspokenartists/2015/11/20/frida-kah
sombre palette,convoluted forms and incorporating pieces of cloth and lo-surrealism/
paper in his compositions to creating paintings inspired from
photography. http://www.theartstory.org/artist-kahlo-frida-artworks.ht
m
Zhang Xiaogang biography - http://www.biography.com/people/frida-kahlo-9359496#d
eteriorating-health-and-death
1
‘Interview with Zhang Xiaogang’, transcript for CNN Talk Asia
http://zhangxiaogang.org/enArtText_XQ.aspx?TblCollegeClnum=78
http://www.saatchigallery.com/artists/zhang_xiaogang_resources.htm
 A big family: Zhang Xiaogang (1995)
Medium : Oil on canvas Size:80.0 x 120.0 cm
COLOR TEXTURE
The piece is done with varied shades of grey using red The texture variance also makes the painting more
for one of the figures this helps in realistic as the difference between the folds of their
*bringing about a contrast clothes,their skin and the background makes the painting
* the dark colors help highlight the historic aspect that almost hyper-realistic.
the artist is trying to bring about
* the colors are merged completely to give a smooth
texture to the skin giving it a photo finish

*The use of only black for the iris helps

bring emphasis and also provides a
haunting look to the face.

*the use of primary colour to create The texture of the background with the help of the shades
SIZE contrast creates a very striking look of grey make it seem like a gloomy sky this also helps set
Disproportion is an integral aspect of this the sullen environment of the painting.
piece as with the help of varied *background is done in shades of
proportions the emphasis is given to the grey using prominently the darker
people in the painting. The people are Shades this is helping in depicting
arranged in ascending/ descending order the gloomy and depressing
respectively starting from the girl in the atmosphere
left to the boy in the middle and then the
women in the right. Size also plays an The lines that form the facial features are clear and not
important role in maintaining emphasis repeated thus increasing the clarity of the features.
for each character as even though the
women is behind with the help of her http://www.saatchigallery.com/artists/zhang_xiaogang_r
size she is given equal importance. The esources.htm
disproportionality can also be seen in https://muse.union.edu/aah194/2014/09/28/a-big-family
each figure as the heads are large and -zhang-xiaogang/
the body is much smaller leading to Zhang Xiaogang. Abigail Fitzgibbons, n.d. Web. 21 Sept.
disproportionality also in the human 2014. .
anatomy. “Zhang Xiaogang.” Saatchi Gallery. N.p., n.d. Web. 27
Sept. 2014. .
A big family : Zhang Xiaogang (1995)
Oil on canvas Size:80.0 x 120.0 cm

"Recently, I get direct inspirations for my works from personally kept photos or charcoal drawings which can be seen anywhere on the streets of China, as
well as the complex mental state which history and reality has given us. l can't really say which part of the carefully decorated old photograph touched a
nerve deep inside my soul. However, they let endless thoughts spring out of me, and make it impossible to get it off my hands. “1

CULTURAL CONTEXT COMPOSITION

The outfits worn by all three people are very important not only to this work but also to While visiting his parents he found a picture of his mother and
the entire Bloodlines series as it signifies the Chinese cultural revolution that inspired father stiffly standing with his two older brothers this was the time
Zhang to create these works making it a very important political aspect to for Chinese when studio pictures had become very popular in China. His father
contemporary art. The red line running through the entire painting is again an important wore a Mao jacket and a workman’s cap. Seeing this picture
aspect as it is a part of every piece of the series signifying the Bloodline running through opened several opportunities for him as a figurative artist.
all the members of this extended family. There are also marks on the faces of the figures
even though it is unclear of what the marks depict yet they seem to be resemble aged *It is ironical that the painting is titled a big family since there are just three
films which is how he was initially inspired to do this series. figures in the painting thus the title is probably due to the sizes of the
figures.
The red thread running through the entire painting - The face marks that are
representative of the bloodline and enhancing the relationship open to interpretation yet *The chinese government prevented Zhang from portraying his works of
between the figures. are believed to represent this series at certain exhibitions for the reason of difference in perspectives
the marks on old worn his idea of portraying people as clones and people with the same thoughts
out photographs had lead to a political spark this painting was a part of that series thus
increasing its political and cultural importance
“I saw then that I had to return to my own living environment and find my
own source,” with the extensive European influence he realized that he
could not connect with any of those artists thus he decided that he needed
to portray his Chinese culture that has been trampled upon by several
others.
1
“ZHANG Xiaogang, Bloodline Series - Big Family @ Ravenel Autumn Auction 2010 Taipei, Lot 187.” ZHANG Xiaogang,
Bloodline Series - Big Family @ Ravenel Autumn Auction 2010 Taipei, Lot 187,
ravenelart.com/artwork.php?cid=8&id=2403&lan=en.
Zhang Xiaogang. Abigail Fitzgibbons, n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2014. .
“Zhang Xiaogang.” Saatchi Gallery. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2014. .
https://muse.union.edu/aah194/2014/09/28/a-big-family-zhang-xiaogang/ - Picture
http://www.saatchigallery.com/artists/zhang_xiaogang_resources.htm
http://www.wmagazine.com/culture/art-and-design/2008/11/zhang_xiaogang?currentPage=1
 Bloodline: The big family no.2 (1995)
Medium: Oil on canvas Size: 180 x 230 cm

COLOUR TEXTURE
Bloodline: the big family no.2 has very clear resemblance Background is painted using dark
to every other piece in this series yet it manages to leave shades of grey and the smooth cloudy
its viewers very interested. effect helps it resemble a backdrop for
The colors here are highly contrasted the extensive use of a studio picture. This is integral to the
monochrome creates a faded historic effect that is work as it is allowing for the painting to
contrasted with the bright yellow. The use of a primary be culturally related to the the pictures
colour just intensifies the effect. Zhang found.
The white patches on the faces of the
Just as in the first piece the figures is not explained but it can be
colors are merged in very seen as a resemblance to the ripped
efficiently to create the and worn out marks seen on old
effect of a photograph. photographs .

The repeated use of the black

Irises provides a daunting, cold
PHYSICAL ELEMENT effect. The mother’s skin color
The painting is seen as resemblance to the family posing has a slight tint of skin color
for a photograph they seem to be very rigidly posing. while the father’s face is completely in monochrome.
Both the adults wear similar expressions, they are sullen
and emotionless looking, even their appearances do not
vary much thus making it difficult to differentiate https://teachartwiki.wikispaces.com/Th
between their genders. Their skin is completely smooth e+Big+Family+No.+2+--+Zhang+Xiaoga
excluding the white marks that are also common in the ng
rest of the series. An explanation for these marks is still http://www.wmagazine.com/culture/ar
not provided thus leaving a mysterious effect. t-and-design/2008/11/zhang_xiaogang?
The oil on canvas is done in a manner to represent currentPage=1
SIZE photography and Zhang has left no traces of brush strokes
Perspective is an important aspect of this piece as the to believe otherwise.
child seems to be in front closer to the observer while the
parents behind are significantly larger in size to maintain
the same amount of importance.
 Bloodline: The big family no.2 (1995)
Oil on canvas Size: 180 x 230 cm
CULTURAL CONTEXT
This series was a highly political one and this is signified even though this piece. The parents are both
wearing outfits typical for the Chinese cultural revolution. The son’s hair also resembles the same era.
This painting was also aimed at the Chinese one child policy and even the title hints at it, the title “A big
family” describes what is the meaning of a big family in China. Again the use of the red line that runs
through the entire painting entwining the figures depicts Zhang’s idea of bloodlines. The red line comes
from the Chinese legend about the ‘red string of fate’ which tells the story of how an invisible thread
runs through everyone who is intended to be together.
“We all live in one big family. This is different with Western families. Chinese people put a huge
emphasis on the family. Family relations include those of blood, those who are your kin, at the same
time in society, in your job, you cannot leave these family, like relations. That left a deep impression on
me.I wanted to express this relationship between the individual and society. This kind of relationship is
like a son who disobeys his father, yet unable to leave his family behind. It's a complicated relationship.”
The uncanny resemblance between the couple is a very unsettling part of this work,Zhang explained
that this was indeed intended he wanted to portray the figures as clones with their thoughts and
appearances being so much like each other that it would be difficult to even tell a man from a woman.
The emotionless expressions are used to show them as they are unaware,lost or even daydreaming.
“Different lifestyles, life experiences and surroundings leave different impressions in a person's heart. I
“To me, old photos and charcoal drawings are quite think art should be used to express what is in a person's heart. So I pursued this direction to find my
familiar like a schematic language, and at the same time, own voice through art. Chinese people have experienced too much change, which dramatically
they are presenting things that I did not find valuable then. influences people internally. I say this from my experience, because I have lived through three
Among them was a unique aesthetic appreciation which completely different time periods in China in a short amount of time. I think art is a resource that we
ordinary Chinese people had been pursuing for a long should use to reflect on Chinese people's attitudes towards this fast-paced change.”
time, such as aesthetic characteristics which suppress
individuality and emphasize commonness, and that are
implicit and neutral but filled with poetic meaning at the Repeated use of red line The man’s hairstyle is prominent to the era of the
same time.” - Zhang Xiaogang making connections with Chinese revolution and the features create
the figures confusion about gender
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/07/19/talkasia.zhang.script/#cnnSTC
Text CNN Interview with Zhang Xiaogang
http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2014/modern-contemporary-asi
an-art-evening-sale-hk0528/lot.145.html
 The Two Fridas (1939)
Medium: Oil on canvas Size: 1.73 m x 1.73 m
COLOUR The Two Fridas is a self portrait done by Frida
The colors used are vibrant that is very familiar to Kahlo with a new unusual take,rather than
her trademark style.The background is a dark grey depicting herself as one person like in her other
colored sky that is also resembling her gloomy and
works she has created two “Frida’s “ to show
dark mindset at the time, the shades help in
providing a depth to the background. her contrasting, varied self. Both the figures are
connected with a vein that helps in explaining
her innate bond with herself this is furthermore
portrayed in the hands that are held together.
The idea of her cutting of her bonds with Diego
and also the side that he loved is shown with
the help of a single vein being cut and thus
The tints are very significant in the clothes as well
as the skin as it provides a realistic effect. Just like bleeding out on the Mexican attire. The blood is
in every other portrait of hers even this holds the also used for signifying the physical pain cause
patent description of her facial hair with the help of by her divorce.
a dark brown almost black color that has a striking
effect making it very difficult to miss.
TEXTURE
The textures here are very clearly shown the folds SIZE AND LINEWORK
of her clothes make it seem very realistic also the The painting uses distinct and clear lines that help
heart are both biologically accurate thus provide a lifelike effect and also enhance its
increasing the sense of reality resemblance to a photograph the line work is very
essential to this piece as it has helped largely in
provided a distinct texture. http://www.theartstory.org/artist-kahlo-frida-artwork
Proportionality has always been asset to Frida
Kahlo’s work, her use of proportionality and size is s.htm
.
There is variance in textures between the very important in this piece. The figures are of the http://www.biography.com/people/frida-kahlo-93594
clothes,sky,the bench they are seated on and their same size and proportionally accurate thus making 96#deteriorating-health-and-death
skin, this variance brings about a picturesque feel them completely identical. The two figures take up http://www.fridakahlofans.com/essay.html
which is the reason this artwork was described as almost the entire canvas thus leading to all the
surrealistic. attention remaining on the two detailed figures.
 The Two Fridas (1939) CONTEXT
Oil on Canvas Size: 1.73 m x 1.73 m
The painting was made at the time of great sadness for Frida, she just had a divorce with Diego Rivera.
In the painting there are two Frida’s both of which are contrasting but referring to her past and
personality. One is wearing an European outfit from an older century reflecting her distinct style while
the other is in a traditional Mexican attire referring to her family kinship. The European outfit is torn to
reveal her heart that is shown to be broken while her Mexican Frida’s heart is intact. This is signifying
how Diego loved only one part of her.This was a very personal piece for Frida Kahlo it helped her
portray her excessive anger,pain and heartbreak this piece provided a new outlook on self portraits.
The composition holds a certain balance that helps each aspect in being highlighted.In her diary she
explains that this painting arose from a memory of her imaginary childhood friend. This also
explained how she has always believed she is her own companion. “ I experienced intensely an
imaginary friendship with a little girl more or less the same age as me …. I told her my problems.
Which ones? I do not remember. But from my voice she knew everything about me.” 1
In her hand she clutches a miniature picture of Diego and this intensifies her love for him, this picture
was also found in her possessions after her death. “ My blood is the miracle that travels in the veins of
the air from my heart to yours”2 she had said this to Diego once and thus in an attempt to sever her
emotional ties with him she uses surgical pincers to cut the unwanted bond that she believed they
shared. Frida intended to paint pain thus allowing us to see and feel the pain and also reflecting all of
the pain of the world
1
“The Origin of The Two Fridas by Frida Kahlo, 21/11/06,
“ … She is a figure that represents the conquest of adversity, that represents how – against hell and
The Midnight Heart.” The Origin of The Two Fridas by high water – a person is able to make their life and reinvent themselves and make that life be
Frida Kahlo, 21/11/06, The Midnight Heart, personally fulfilling... Frida Kahlo in that sense is a symbol of hope, of power, of empowerment, for a
blogs.warwick.ac.uk/zoebrigley/entry/the_origin_of/. variety of sectors of our population who are undergoing adverse conditions.”3
2
ELJHASCOËT. “The Two Fridas by Frida Kahlo
(1939).” The Squirrel Review, 22 Mar. 2015,
thesquirrelreview.com/2015/03/20/the-two-fridas-by-frida
-kahlo-1939/. The torn clothing to The miniature picture of
3
Fuentes, Carlos. “Understanding Frida Today.” PBS, show her heart Diego portraying her love
PBS, www.pbs.org/weta/fridakahlo/today/. representative of her and obsessiveness
://www.fridakahlofans.com/c0290.htm broken heart
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-1010/art-bet specifically by her Mexican
specifically her half
ween-wars/latin-american-modernism1/a/kahlo-the-two-fri
European side
das-las-dos-fridas
 My grandparents,My parents and I (1936)
Medium: Oil on canvas Size:30.7 x 34.5 cm

COLOUR COMPOSITION
The painting has many components the courtyard,her With the help of this painting Frida is paying a tribute to
as a child,her parents,her grandparents,the her Mexican and Jewish culture. On her right is her
background and the presence of the figures in the Jewish-born father and her grandparents whose cultural
clouds. One major aspect of Frida’s work is her heritage is depicted with the help of the sea and on the
extensive use of colors and this is shown very left is her Mexican mother and her parents. Their culture
efficiently in this work. Each aspect uses different and belonging is depicted with the help of the the land.
shades and tints and this helps enhance the Right in the middle is Frida she has again depicted herself
understanding of each. With the help of different In two ways one of herself as a fetus in her mother’s
colours and shades she has created a variety of womb and the other as a child.
textures from the blues in the water to the greens in The child is right in the middle of the painting and is
the plants ahead and the browns for the mountains holding the composition together this is also shown with
behind. the help of the blood like ribbon that connects all the
The outfit her mother had donned resembles her own various members of the family. The nudity here is a clear
outfit in the painting The two Fridas thus depicting her depiction of innocence.
mexican background her mother seems to stand out Even though this painting has several aspects which
of the painting due the use of the white paint that makes is seems very crowded yet after observation it
helps created a contrast. makes a complete family tree with significance of each
The tints use to depict skin has member in it.
TEXTURE
been very carefully done so as to
The texture variance is integral to Frida’s work
represent the difference in cultural http://www.moma.org/collection/works/78784?locale=en
even in this painting that variance can be seen.
backgrounds.
The soil has a texture that varied from that of
Even though majority of the http://www.ebsqart.com/Education/Articles/Art-History-a
the mountains. The presence of the water also
painting uses shades of brown and nd-Criticism/2/Frida-Kahlo-and-Duality/5/
brings in a smooth texture that is not seen
red yet it has several details such as
anywhere else in the painting. The different
the light blue shade of the courtyard http://www.wikiart.org/en/frida-kahlo/my-grandparents-
textures help in making this work very detailed
and the dark brown shades of the mountain behind, my-parents-and-me-1936
as every aspect of the work has a different
this helps in making the landscape much more
texture to provide.
Realistic. The fetus even though very small compared
Each of the figures also help portray a varied
to the rest of the figures draws attention due to the
texture based on their cultural background and
realistic use of colours and shades.
this shows the extent of her imagination.
 My grandparents,My parents and I (1936)
Oil on canvas Size:30.7 x 34.5 cm

CULTURAL CONTEXT
The painting is a very accurate description of her family each person in it has a similar expression
bringing a sense of resemblance even with the wide cultural difference.
The courtyard is very essential to this painting as it refers to Casa Azul which is where she was born
and also died. She looks very strong and safe in the painting also being the one who is holding the
ribbons that are showing this family as one. Also representing the bloodline that runs through her
family and thus make her.
The period between the 1934 and the 1940s was a tumultuous period for Frida as her marriage with
Diego had come to an end. Thus in this period she began exploring her heritage and her Mexican and
Jewish roots. She was a mestiza so she was undergoing an identity crisis with the rest of
post-revolutionary Mexico.
"Me in the middle of this house, when I was about two years old. The whole house is in perspective as
I remember it. On top of the house in the clouds are my father and mother when they were married
(portraits taken from photographs). The ribbon about me and my mother's waist becomes an
umbilical cord and I become a fetus. On the right, the paternal grandparents, on the left the maternal
grandparents. A ribbon circles all the group — symbolic of the family relation. The German
http://www.ebsqart.com/Education/Articles/Art-History- grandparents are symbolized by the sea, the Mexican by the earth."1
and-Criticism/2/Frida-Kahlo-and-Duality/5/ -
http://www.moma.org/collection/works/78784# Even as Frida had always been closer to her father she had not portrayed her German background
http://roppskyline.pbworks.com/w/page/6550611/Frida explicitly in any works until this one a reason for this could be that Diego only loved her Mexican side
%20Kahlo's%20family rather than her European one thus in this time of self discovery she has tried to express herself
1
Levit, Ginger. “Frida Kahlo: The Jewish Mexicana.” completely.
www.virginiajewishnews.com/art-gallery.html.

The detailed depiction of

Casa Azul depicted to landscapes shows her
show her background. excessive technique and
The ribbons are attempts at understanding her
showing the bloodline identity using her differing
(family tree) family backgrounds
 His parents were government officials and in 1963 they moved to China’s Sichuan Province.
Cultural Context: Most of his youth was defined by the Chinese Cultural revolution taking place. His work in
the later years was a clear projection of this revolution and its psychological effects.
Zhang Xiaogang
Almost everyday his parents were investigated thus leading to very disturbed memories.
Even his relationship with his mother was a troubled one as she had Schizophrenia. Art was
a method by his parents to keep him out of the streets and thus out of trouble but he soon
started developing interest and skills.As a part of the Down to the Countryside movement
he was separated from his family , despite this he became a student of the watercolourist
Lin Ling. He then moved on to studying oil painting which became one of his prominent
materials.Zhang also underwent acute depression yet he was able to develop as an artist
and used this “dark era” to enhance his work. In 1983 he went through extensive
self-examination as an aftermath of depression which was evident in his self-portrait
showing himself in the Western light and he was admitted to a hospital for alcohol induced
bleeding.

“At that time, my inspiration primarily came from the private feelings I had at the hospital. When I
lay on the white bed, on the white bed sheet, I saw many ghost-like patients comforting each
other in the cramped hospital wards. When night dawned, groaning sounds rose above the
hospital and some of the withering bodies around had gone to waste and were drifting on the
brink of death: these deeply stirred my feelings. They were so close to my then life experiences
and lonely miserable soul.”1
1
Zhang Xiaogang, p.74,
https://www.revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=Zhan
g%20Xiaogang Years later he used unseen photographs from various families to create the bloodlines
http://zhangxiaogang.org/enArtText_XQ.aspx?Tbl series to represent the effect of the cultural revolution. This series is still very significant and
CollegeClnum=78 showed his rise as a contemporary artist
.
http://zhangxiaogang.org/enArtText_XQ.aspx?Tbl
CollegeClnum=78
http://airartgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/
02/Zhang-xiaogang.jpg
 Frida Kahlo was born on July 6th 1907 in La Casa Azul. Casa Azul was the family home
Cultural Context: where she was born and also where she died thus making this an integral part of her life.
Frida Kahlo The use of Casa Azul in My grandparents,my parents and I thus increases its importance
and helps portray her personal heritage.

Frida Kahlo had a very diverse cultural background with her mother being of a Mexican
Indian descent and her father a Hungarian-Jewish photographer who had immigrated to
Mexico from Germany. In her short life she underwent several tragic incidents that became
the basis for her art.

At the age of 6,she contracted polio and was thus bedridden for 9 months. The disease
damaged her legs and thus she had to limp disregarding that her father motivated for
swimming which was against the social norms at that point of time. Her father had a vast
influence on her thinking that helped her art with the help of his photography. A bus
accident at the age of 18 left her completely bedridden, she underwent approximately 30
surgeries, leaving her with a painful corset of mechanical stretching systems. She used
such events to create artworks such as The Accident which she sketched a year after the
bus collision. Drawing from personal experience of her tumultuous marriage with Diego
http://www.writedesignonline.com/history-cultur
e/Kahlo/overview.htm Rivera,numerous surgeries and her painful miscarriages, her works are painstaking.
http://www.frida-kahlo-foundation.org/biograph
y.html
http://www.biography.com/people/frida-kahlo-9 Frida Kahlo till her death never provided a cultural clarity to her work, or to her personal
359496 life she functioned as a mismatch thus led only her feeling guide her way. Even as is
http://cosmic-orgasm.com/wp-content/uploads/
2015/10/1939_photo_nickolas_muray-frida-kahl
sometimes considered to be a surrealist, while exhibiting her work with European
o-facebook-cosmic-orgasm.jpg surrealists she was never considered as one of them.
 Function and Purpose
Zhang Xiaogang : Frida Kahlo :

A big family (1995) and Bloodline:The big family no.2 The Two Fridas (1939)
When the artwork was created it was made with the intention of portraying The work was created at a very tragic time in her life, her marriage had just
the true state of China, during the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Zhang ended and she was using her art to deal with the situation. For Frida her art
wanted to express how formal and unrealistic the families had become. has always served just one function: to express her personal pain.
Using the blank expressions he created a haunting look of profound Each aspect of the painting portrays parts of her relationship. From the
sadness, highlighting the social need to fit it. depiction of two Fridas, to their varied cultural outfits,to miniature of Diego
Zhang was very young when the revolution broke out, thus his art was a in Frida’s hand.
method of self-reflection. From his parents being traumatized to the figures This painting is very significant even today as it is not just the portrayal of a
in his work undergoing the same. woman’s amazing talent rather also expresses notions of womanhood
“When I first started painting Bloodline, my collections were taken away evidently found today.
at the last minute before the opening of the first Shanghai Biennale in
1996. I told the curator they [the Bloodline works] were not about the My grandparents,My parents and I (1936)
movement, they are about people, but the Cultural Revolution remained The intent of the painting is very clear, it is Frida’s attempt to understand
taboo at the time.” and explore her cultural background. Kahlo has used her art as a way to
This purpose remains the same till date. Even today the series is viewed with understand and gain clarity about her identity and this is one such piece.
the objective of understanding the Chinese Cultural Revolution and its Her depiction of her family tree and the straightforward title express that
aftermath. her intent was not based on tragedy rather mere curiosity.
Due to this series Zhang was seen as a global artist not just a Chinese artist. This artwork is famous even today for its excessive detail, varied colour
He was also viewed as China’s first globally known Contemporary artist. scheme and abundance in texture.
Working now on his Green Walls series he is leaving behind the tragic
situation of the Chinese Cultural Revolution that influenced an essential part
of his work.

"Artist Zhang Xiaogang on the Cultural Revolution and How Chinese Artists Are
Perceived in the West." South China Morning Post. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Jan. 2017.
 Bloodline:the big family no.2 (1995) My grandparents,my parents and I
and A big family (1995) -Zhang
(1936)- Frida Kahlo
Xiaogang
*Zhang’s bloodlines was a series inspired from the aftermath *Frida Kahlo is known widely for her excessively personally works
of the Chinese cultural revolution thus it is deeply rooted in that arise largely from events in her life. This painting was a part
the Chinese history, even though the series is very personal of Frida’s search for her ancestral connections thus making it
its purpose is to depict a social situation not a personal one. culturally significant to only her life.
*The series was inspired from photographs that Zhang he had * In the similar manner Frida has painted her family members from
found thus making his reference very accurate and close to him. what seems like memory thus bringing first hand observation into
play.
*The colour scheme throughout the series is very similar, the * The colours in this piece are very significant to Frida’s works as
monochrome is essential to the piece giving it a worn out yet she has used various bright colours that help enhance the
stark appeal. The contrasting yellow helps bring out the attention different aspects she has aimed to portray and since she has
to the child that identifies with the Chinese one child policy that many different aspects to this piece such as the background that
the piece is based on. Since the work has evolved from shows geographical differences and her extensive colour palette
photographs the texture of the work is very smooth, there is even has helped her with that. The textures of this piece are very
blending of the paints throughout the work to provide a integral to the portrayal of her family as the background itself
picturesque look. He has even used dabs of paint to create a holds texture difference from the smooth rippled texture of the
varied texture of the worn out photograph and this is contrasting water to the rugged and stark lines in the cactus and the rocky
to the evenness. landscape.
*Bloodline is a representation of a larger family sufficing of all * My grandparents.my parents and I is a typical family tree that
people who belong to China and thus it is a very significant shows a very personal outlook that Frida has about her family.
cultural work. The portray of the family is very minimalistic, there There are many differing aspects such as the water portraying
are very few aspects to the work itself and that has helped largely Europe and the cactus and rock terrain pertinent to Mexico. The
in creating a strong impact for this piece. The bloodlines many aspects of this work help explain how her family is different
throughout the series are represented via thread and this thread and culturally vibrant. The use of red ribbons to connect the family
is replaced via a ribbon in Frida’s family tree. members identifies with the bloodlines exactly like Zhang’s.
 Final
comparison ●
Zhang Xiaogang
Large contribution to ●
Frida Kahlo
Her works were largely
Social cause as works are for personal purposes
* Works
Mainly based on social and not to create a social or
are based
Cultural backgrounds. on things very cultural stance
● Born during a personal and ● Father largely
Cultural revolution thus significant influenced her artworks,
Has a very strong *Use of primary his photography was a
references major source of her
Connection to the culture
*Aspect of reality in
Being Identified with. work references
● Use of excessive *Both have had ● Use of different bright
Monochrome troubled lives colours in almost all of
● Subtle textures influencing their her works
● Repetitive works Works. ● Very distinct textures
*Expressive
● Largely realistic works colours
with the help of clear
or use references from brushstrokes
real people ● Use of realistic figures
● Translates with significantly
photography into imaginative aspects
paintings
 Artists influence on my work
My artworks focus on the distortion of reality due to
mental disorders, this particular work focuses on
dissociative personality disorder. Thus this piece
aims at showing the multiple personalities within an
individual.
● The purple patch that covers the face
is one such element. This has been
vital in explaining the loss of oneself as
no emotion can be told due to the
coloured patch. These patches are
prevalent in Zhang’s work yet there is
no definite reason given for these
patches other than the intent of giving ● Another element that is
an old worn out effect. Yet in my piece inspired by Zhang is the use
each patch is essential and helps in of contrasting colour, as seen
bringing out the disorder clearly. in all of his works. This has
● Zhang has specific background, that been replicated in my work
is very similar to the backgrounds by using lemon yellow,
which photographs are taken against. yellow ochre and purple
This has also been replicated in my against a monochrome
work and has helped largely in palette. This contrast helped
creating depth. Due to this element a in bringing emphasis to each
background, foreground and patch individually.
middleground is created.
 Influence on my work: Zhang Xiaogang
● Zhang Xiaogang uses very expressive colours that are aimed more at
expressing emotions than for functional purposes like showing what the
object is using its colours. Thus for my work I have focused on the colour
scheme in order to create emotions in my audience. In Zhang’s Bloodlines
series he has used contrasting colour to create an eye catching effect and
to draw emphasis to certain aspects of the works. In the same manner to
explain the concept of dementia I have created a contrast using a
monochromatic photograph and red coloured pins. The piece strictly
replicates the colour scheme used in Zhang’s “A big family” .
● While “A big family” shows each aspect from every family member to the
background in a realist form making it look like a photograph, my piece
does the opposite as I have blurred the picture to a large extent in order to
explain the concept of dementia.
● In order to replicate Zhang’s realistic form I have used photography. This
method allowed for the background picture to look realistic despite the
blurred effect.
● The entire Bloodlines series shows a single red thread running along the
bottom of the canvas, this has been replicated by using an thread that is
connecting the figures in the picture. The intent of the thread in Zhang’s
work is to connect all the figures that represent a family and in my work this
intent remains the same.
The use of patches is a
technique similar in all of
Zhang’s works. While its
purpose is not definite in
his work, it is very
effective in mine.

The cloudy background

has also been replicated
to show a tense
environment

The use of thread to

replicate the
bloodline that is
integral in the entire
series

The use of a mono-

chromatic palette is
inspired by Zhang’s
impactful mono-
chrome use.
This work uses several aspects which are significant to Zhang’s work, yet there are a
few changes that could have made this piece more effective.

● The use of the lemon yellow patch has been inspired by Zhang’s Bloodline: The
big family no.2 (1995) and has played well against the monochrome background.
While the yellow ochre patch provides subtler difference, this could have been
avoided by using lemon yellow again.
● Another significant inspiration that can be observed is in the background. The
cloudy effect is seen in both of Zhang’s work, this could have been made clearly
by using different shades of black, grey and white. In my work the cloudy effect
is subtle and doesn’t vary throughout the background unlike Zhang’s work.
● Throughout the Bloodlines series, Zhang uses oil paints in order to keep the
colour intact and maintain the vibrancy. Rather than using oil paints I have used
acrylic paints and this has affected the monochrome palette.

● This artwork has directly replicated the colour scheme that is followed by Zhang
in “A big family”. The stark contrast between black and red has helped largely in
bringing emphasis to each figure. Yet due material difference between the
photograph and the pin, this stark contrast does not remain the same. This
could have been avoided if rather than using a photograph the background was
painted.

● Another significant difference in Zhang’s work is the use of identical

compositions. Each of his pieces creates a focus on a few figures representative
of a family. This has been avoided in my work as I wanted to shows each figure
as the same.
Bibliography
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