Renewal 。 Redemption 。 Transformation

Tube Boy
2023
Acrylic on Canvas
100 x 80 cm
£800
Inspired by urban art, which centres on human characters, Chen Hao began reflecting on his own experience of living in UK culture as a student. This led him to the idea of drawing inspiration from the London Underground. He incorporated four metro lines and positioned a small boy, representing himself, sitting in the middle of the painting—much like how we zone out and listen to music while sitting on the metro.
The warm, light background contrasts with the colour of the boy's clothing, creating a visual balance. The metro lines passing through the little boy's ears are like the sound of the metro passing through people's ears, visually representing the sensation of sound. Chen Hao used a significant amount of white to create a soft, cream colour throughout the painting. There is no shadow in the background, as it mimics the boy drifting in a different dimension, capturing a sense of detachment.