The painting Mr. H originates from Cai Zebin’s reflections on the classic figure of Harlequin, a stock character in theater, literature, and art. Complex and contradictory, it embodies a mix of amusement, satire, fear, and philosophical reflection. Harlequin and Pierrot frequently appear together in artworks–for instance, André Derain’s Harlequin and Pierrot (1924) was a source of inspiration for Cai. The former represents worldly joy and festivity, while the latter symbolizes spiritual solitude. The artist imagines his own condition as a contemporary iteration of Harlequin’s predicament.

The figure of Mr. H draws inspiration from Philip Guston’s San Clemente (1975), while the posture of him hovering over the water derives from the symbol of Mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of focusing on the present moment with awareness and acceptance, without judgment. Its symbol of mirrored droplets indicates that both past and future are illusions, reminding us to remain grounded in the present.

Cai created Mr. H while contemplating Harlequin’s predicament and maintaining a mindset of mindfulness. As part of a formal exploration, the smaller canvas in the diptych features two serpentine figures resembling a stethoscope, echoing the curved posture of Mr. H.

作品《哈先生》来源于蔡泽滨对哈利昆（Harlequin）这个经典形象的思考。哈利昆的形象历来经常出现在戏剧、文学和艺术中，融合了娱乐、讽刺、恐惧与哲学反思的多重内涵，是一个复杂而矛盾的角色。哈利昆和皮埃罗（Pierrot）的组合常见于艺术作品中，安德烈·德兰（Andre Derain）的作品《哈利昆和皮埃罗》（Harlequin and Pierrot，1924）就曾对艺术家有所启发。前者代表世俗欢闹，后者代表精神的孤独。艺术家把自己的状态想象成哈利昆在当下时代复杂处境中的一种演绎。

哈先生的形体借鉴了菲利普·加斯顿（Philip Guston）的作品《圣克莱门特》（San Clemente, 1975），他附身凝视水面的画面则来源于Mindfulness（正念）的符号。正念的修行讲求用接纳的态度专注地觉察当下，不做任何评判。镜像水滴的符号象征着时间的过去和未来都是幻象，要专注当下。

蔡泽滨思考着哈利昆的复杂处境，怀着正念的心境创作了《哈先生》这件作品。出于在形式上的探索，这件双联画的小画中，两个蛇形形象来源于听诊器的造型，和哈先生的弯曲形体彼此呼应。