Chao Er Tai

1977

Well

POST WINGS

The work depicts a fisherman standing on an incline, facing the vast expanse of the earth. The canvas is laid out with a multitude of horizontal brushstrokes that create a sense of space. The thick ink at the top and bottom resembles clouds and forests, while a large area of lighter tones is left in the middle, placing the figure in an almost vacuum-like environment. The angler in a red outfit stands at the edge of the slope, small yet distinct, becoming the sole visual anchor of the entire painting.

Zhao Erdi deliberately weakens the narrative at this moment, leaving out any indication of harvest or results, instead preserving the states of "standing" and "waiting." Fishing is no longer depicted as labor but as a posture of facing the unknown and enduring solitude. With storms on the horizon and the heavens low, the figure still chooses to move forward, presenting the artist's calm reflection on the existential situation in his later years.

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