Humans Have Many Faces

By Ilham Khoiri, from Singapura.

Humans have many faces. A person’s lips may be smiling, but perhaps they are hiding sadness in their heart. We should not be fooled by appearances.

On Thursday afternoon (August 28, 2025), Paragon, a shopping center on Orchard Road in Singapore, bustled with people. Several visitors gathered around a unique statue displayed in the mall’s atrium. Some took out their phones to snap pictures of it.

The statue, almost two meters tall, was made of gray-painted bronze. It depicts a man bowing politely. The figure is dressed in a neat suit, with his right hand placed over his chest and his left hand holding an umbrella. A broad smile spreads across his face.

This friendly expression prompted several visitors to smile in return. It was a moment of spontaneous cheerfulness amid the lively shopping crowd.

British Standard, the title of the sculpture, is one of about 30 works by Chinese artist Gao Xiaowu (49), presented in Harmony in Landscape, an exhibition organized by Linda Gallery. The show runs at Paragon Singapore from August 13 to 31, 2025. Linda Gallery, founded by Linda Ma, has spaces in Jakarta, Singapore, and Beijing.

“The pose of this sculpture reflects the standard of people who respect others. ‘British Standard’ refers to Western-style respect,” explained Gao Xiaowu from Beijing during a phone interview, with Linda Ma translating enthusiastically.

Gao has been creating various versions of this bowing human figure for several years. Earlier pieces were plain white, while more recent ones are colored.

His works reveal a reality: humans do indeed have many faces. As social beings, people must behave politely to be seen as good in the eyes of others. Thus, many try to meet these standards even when they are not feeling well.

On the other hand, as individuals, humans are free to express themselves. Sadness, anger, or disappointment may be released in private spaces where they do not disturb others. This tension creates a paradox — a contradiction between outward appearance and inner truth.

Therefore, do not be easily deceived by what is visible. This is especially true in the case of politicians in our country. In pursuit of power, they are often accustomed to showing something contrary to reality. A popular proverb captures this well: “The depth of the sea can be measured, but who knows the depth of the heart?”

Through British Standard, we are invited to be more open to human complexity. Gao admits to being inspired by Charlie Chaplin (1889–1977), the English artist who created many silent films filled with both humor and poignancy. One of Chaplin’s well-known reflections resonates with this work: “Life is a tragedy when seen close up, but a comedy when seen from a distance.”

Link:

https://www.kompas.id/artikel/manusia-punya-banyak-wajah?open_from=Seni_Page