Title: Model

Artist: He Jun
Medium: Ink on  Xuan Paper

Canvas Size: 138 × 68 cm (54.3 × 26.8 in)

Framed Size: 158 × 88 cm (62.2 × 34.6 in)

Year: 2024
Frame: Black solid wood frame
Artwork ID: MBA-2026-08
Authenticity: Original · One of a Kind · Signed Certificate of Authenticity

Model depicts a female figure derived from ancient Chinese imagery of the Tang dynasty. The hairstyle, posture, and overall form clearly reference the visual language of classical Chinese culture, where Tang-era women were often portrayed with calm dignity and quiet presence. The historical origin of the figure is recognizable, even without explicit narrative.

However, the artist does not treat this figure as a reconstruction of history. Instead, he deliberately assigns the work a distinctly contemporary title—Model. This choice reflects the artist’s modern, internationally oriented mindset. By naming a figure rooted in ancient China with a modern term, he repositions tradition within a contemporary framework, allowing historical imagery to be re-examined through present-day perception.

Such an approach reveals the artist’s forward-looking artistic consciousness. It is precisely this openness and contemporary awareness that enables him to create works that differ from conventional ink painting, even while remaining firmly grounded in traditional media.

In terms of composition, the figure is intentionally placed toward the left side of the picture, leaving a large expanse of blank space on the right. This is a conscious structural decision rather than an omission. The artist believes that negative space is not emptiness, but a psychological and conceptual field—one that invites imagination, creates tension, and allows the image to linger in the viewer’s mind. This deliberate imbalance encourages interpretation and, at times, debate, making the work more memorable.

The figure itself is rendered with remarkable restraint. Using only a few simplified brushstrokes, the artist captures the essential presence of the subject. This method is consistent with his long-standing artistic language: minimal lines, reduced forms, and maximum expressiveness. There is no decorative excess, only precise and confident ink work. 

It is within this apparent simplicity that the artist’s mastery becomes evident. With just a handful of lines, the figure’s expression and inner vitality emerge vividly. This ability—to convey character and spirit through economy of means—is a hallmark of refined ink painting practice.

Model does not aim to tell a historical story, nor does it rely on traditional narrative structures. Instead, it functions as a dialogue across time: an ancient figure viewed through contemporary consciousness, where traditional ink becomes a medium for modern reflection.