Artist: Chen Yu 
 
Artist's reflection: This contemporary painting seems like more of a draft than a fully formed and finalized piece of art. Yet, it isn't. Chen creatively develops this piece through the use of thin brush strokes and an overarching, but mild, red color. 
 
The "Cut Wood Image" series by the artist Chen Yu can be regarded as "portraits" of wood. The wood in this series is not the woodwork of daily life, but rather timber that is in its initial stages - felled, rough, and shelved - and it retains a specific purpose and traits. The wood is sturdy and unwavering. 
 
Chen Yu created the texture of the cut surface with colors and brush strokes, thus emphasizing the individual identity in the collectivism - each piece of wood is unique. The wood therefore presents a strong and lively sense of life. And when they are fully recognized, they become mysterious and unpredictable.