Acrylic on canvas

55 × 50 cm. 21 5/8 × 19 3/4 in.

Signed in Pinyin and dated on bottom right; Signed in Chinese and Pinyin, titled in English and dated on the reverse

LITERATURE
2021, Jing Zhiyong 2021, Jing Zhiyong, Beijing, p.68
PROVENACE
Private Collection, Asia

Fantasia of Life
Montage of Jing Zhiyong

As a celebrated young artist of the millennial generation, Jing Zhiyong has been captivating audiences since 2018 through platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Today, his artworks not only sell out within seconds of release but also boast a million followers, earning him the title of "Mysterious Internet Celebrity Painter" by the media.

His days at Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts honed his solid painting skills. Graduating in 2007, he gradually explored a unique painting language characterized by serene tones, minimalist compositions, and cinematic narrative plots. Jing Zhiyong abandoned vibrant colours and cartoonish images, opting for a serious yet darkly humorous portrayal of introspective landscapes. Not only sought after by collectors, but his works are also collected by the White Rabbit Gallery in Australia. This Spring auction presents two outstanding pieces, Reminiscences (Lot 4) and Mr.Daydream's Homesickness (Lot 5), showcasing his diverse creative prowess with characters reminiscent of the enigmatic figures from the film A Ghost Story.

Planets beyond Civilization

In the artwork Reminiscences, the artist sets the vast expanse of outer space as the backdrop, dividing the sky and planetary surface into black and grey. The focal point shifts to the central object, contrasting the stark emptiness of undeveloped outer space with the elements of a vending machine, office chair, and rarely-treaded areas. This surreal scene, akin to a post-apocalyptic world, portrays a dystopian loneliness where only capital, consumption, and people accompany each other, serving as a darkly humorous warning about contemporary life, and provoking deep reflection.

Journey of Humanity: Cornfield of Hope

On the other hand, Mr.Daydream’s Homesickness adopts a fresh green palette. The artist depicts an expansive cornfield from an aerial perspective, radiating the hopeful colours of life against a semi-transparent sky. A truck travels down a narrow road, with the protagonist lying in the cargo hold resembling a missile set to launch into the sky. This composition adds a touch of suspense to the peaceful scene, narrating a story reminiscent of the unknown and adventurous spirit of the 1970s American road movies, reflecting contemplation on the mysterious shifts in world affairs.

Price estimate:
HKD: 25,000 –45,000
USD: 3,200 - 5,700

Auction Result:
HKD: 66,000