The Romance of Men

作品賞析

At first glance, The Romance of Men closely resembles the calligraphy and painting works in the National Palace Museum collection in Taiwan. However, upon closer inspection, subtle differences emerge. Artist Zheng Chong-Xiao, inspired by his exposure to classic masterworks at the National Palace Museum, sought to reinterpret traditional landscapes in a more youthful way, aiming to make ancient cultural relics resonate with modern audiences. For this piece, Zheng, who majored in Western painting, drew inspiration from Tang Dynasty artwork Traveling on Horseback on a Spring Outing. He infused it with elements of Western art history, presenting it through his signature cartoon style, combined with techniques reminiscent of video games and Lego creations. In this piece, the figures are playing polo a popular sport during the Tang Dynasty. However, the Zheng reimagines a famous story about the handsome scholar Pan An, who was so admired that women would toss fruit at him. In a playful twist, the artist transforms this allusion, making the characters in the painting compete for a cooling watermelon, with the belief that one who grabs it will become as handsome as Pan An.