Lot 1709: YOU JIN

YOU JIN
(B. 1979)
Desire of City
oil on canvas, diptych
each: 150 x 150 cm. (59 x 59 in.)
overall: 150 x 300 cm. (59 x 118 in.)
Painted in 2007 (2)

The painting presents a commanding panorama in cavalier perspective that is typical of traditional Chinese painting. A closer view of the painting strikes visitors with overlapping color and streaks crossing; at a distance is a traditional Chinese painting with resplendent scenery of both reality and imagination. The scene, both real and unreal, the dazzling bright colours and the well-balanced streaks all add to the strong pictorial rhythm and dynamics.

Based on traditional Chinese landscape painting, this work replaces the original mountains and water scenery with modern metropolis landscape. The city in the painting is divided into complex fragments, but by no means disordered. The overlapping colourful fragments constitute visionary images, making a picture of a splendid, capricious and grotesque world. Probably, we are in a transitional age of order and disorder. It might even be an age of imminent danger and hidden trouble.