The artwork entitled “Two Sisters” by Zhang Xiaogang, created in 2003, is a portrait associated with the Magic Realism art movement. The composition portrays two young girls side by side, distinguished by their contrasting skin tones and the symbolic patches on their faces.
In examining the artwork, the viewer is immediately drawn to the depiction of the two subjects with their meticulously braided hair and solemn expressions. The figure on the left is rendered with a reddish hue, while the sister on the right is depicted in monochromatic grayscale. Both girls are dressed in school uniforms, which adds to the evocative quality of nostalgia and the passage of time. The surreal aspect is further accentuated by the seemingly stitched patches on their faces, signifying emotional or psychological scars. Zhang Xiaogang’s piece merges realistic portrayal with symbolic elements, creating an enigmatic and contemplative visual narrative.
