Acrylic on canvas

61 × 51 cm. 24 × 20 1/8 in.

Signed in English and dated on middle right

LITERATURE
2013, Benrei Huang, The Eslite Corp, Taipei, p.77 & 124
2017, Benrei Huang, China National Photographic Art Publishing, Beijing, p.108
EXHIBITED
25 Dec 2013 – 26 Jan 2014, Dreams for Sale, Eslite Gallery, Taipei

PROVENANCE
Eslite Gallery, Taipei
Acquired directly by present private Asian collector from the above

Note: This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued by Taipei Eslite Gallery signed by the artist

From the Psychedelic Forest to the Famous Art Museum
Travel the World with Nini

Since 2008, a rabbit named “Nini” has leaped into the public eye like an elf. Nini's creator is Taiwanese artist Huang Benrei. Nini, depicted by Huang's brush, combines humour and delicacy, optimism and melancholy, making people unable to resist gazing into its soulful black eyes and expressing their innermost thoughts. Over the past decade, Huang Benrei has exhibited Nini in places such as New York, Taipei, and Suzhou. The works Drawing Lesson 101- This Part Is Too Dark, or It's Just a White Bunny with a Black Butt (Lot 9) and When the Season Changes, I Will Do (Lot 10) that are being auctioned were both published in her important solo exhibition Dreams for Sale in Taipei in 2013, garnering enthusiastic response. In each artwork world, viewers can follow Nini's footsteps and appreciate the various possibilities of life with a fascinating touch, finding wisdom in its gentle and adorable gestures.

Appreciating the Pinnacle of Art, Playing with Shadow Tricks

In the piece Drawing Lesson 101- This Part Is Too Dark, or It's Just a White Bunny with a Black Butt the rabbit's shadow becomes the corresponding existence of the protagonist, engaging in a dialogue with Nini's body and enriching the possibilities of reality. This is a rare and rich “picture in picture” in this theme. Different from most minimalist background works, Huang Benrei constructs a complex and orderly spatial scene. Nini, standing in the centre of the picture, looks attentively at the various paintings hanging on the wall. On the left, you can see Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night, recreating the dazzling spiral of stars. On the right wall, there is a self-portrait by Rembrandt, depicting the dreamlike depth changes of the Dutch master, highlighting the charm of the art giant. Interestingly, Nini, who is all white, has only grown a black tail. Its shadow behind it seems like a living third party, pointing at its tail, questioning the title of the work: “This part is too dark! Or it's just a white bunny with a black butt!” The “shadow” here acts like a theatrical actor, humourously revealing that both the paintings on the wall and Nini itself are worlds created by the artist. Through this portrayal, the artwork leads viewers to traverse the past and present, dance between reality and imagination, and humourously points out that each viewer, like Nini, is a character shaped by the universe.

The Joy of Growth in the Changing Seasons

In another piece, When the Season Changes, I Will Do, Nini enters the vibrant nature, embraced by lush green leaves from all directions. The artist meticulously depicts the appearance of different plants, some with oval-shaped long leaves, some with round fleshy leaves like fruits, or curled tentacles like an octopus. Nini stands in the centre, looking to the right side of the picture, as if waiting or looking back in reminiscence, filled with nostalgia and anticipation for the future. As the title suggests, as the green branches spread and grow day by day, Nini also rapidly grows in the blink of an eye. It seems to tell us that one day, people will bid farewell to their childhood, like plants branching out and bearing abundant fruits, enjoying the natural cycle of life. The accumulation of the past has shaped the present self and paved the way for an anticipated future. Huang Benrei uses Nini to slowly interpret the declaration of adapting to nature and steadfast tranquillity, with the joy of life converging in the changes of the seasons.

Price estimate:
HKD 58,000 – 88,000
USD 7,400 – 11,300

Auction Result:
HKD: 120,000