Lot 64: SHAO FAN (Chinese, B. 1964)

SHAO FAN (Chinese, B. 1964) Live Long signed 'Shao fan' in Pinyin (on the reverse) oil on canvas 158 x 114 cm. (62 1/4 x 44 7/8 in.) Painted in 1985

158 x 114 cm.

Private Collection, France

Shao Fan's works, from sculptures, to paintings or design, blend East and West, contemporary and traditional. His artistic pursuit is driven by the 'appreciation of oldness' and its sublimation. One of the first Chinese artists to marry visual art and design, Shao Fan's creations aim at transcending time and retiring from the chaos of the world. The stool is an iconic piece of his. He plays with the appearance and material of Ming dynasty furniture and challenges the connotations associated to them. The painting is the first creation in the medium and illustrates perfectly the artist's profound admiration for the aesthetics of traditional Chinese culture. His symbolic stance is visible in his choice to leave the face of the sitter anonymous. Both works exemplify the artist's practice.