Oil on canvas

131 x 107 cm.51 5/8 x 42 1/8 in.

Signed in Chinese，titled and dated on the reverse

LITERATURE Michael Ku Gallery，Taipei，Picking Up All the Winter Branches，2009，p.13.

Boers-Li Gallery，Beijing，China，Qiu Xiaofei，2010，p.5.

EXHIBITED Michael Ku Gallery，Taipei，Picking Up All the Winter Branches-joined Exhibition by Qiu Xiaofei，Song Kun，Jun.2009.

Michael Ku Gallery，Taipei，A Group Exhibition，Dec.2010.

Qiu Xiaofei b. 1977

‘Life experiences of artists born in the 50s and 60s were very different from ours. Their works are usually the common experience of their generation. Ours，however，typically originate from our personal experience and reminiscences.’

— Qiu Xiaofei

Qiu Xiaofei is a profoundly representative figure among contemporary Chinese artists born in 1970s. His early works traced his childhood memories：Old family albums were taken reference to depict dream-like，blurred memories. Through this，the artist explored the delicate relationship between the past reality and the imaginary，copied reality. From 2003 to 2006，Qiu Xiaofei created an isolated world for himself through repetition of painting old photos. The ‘Heilongjiang Box’ exhibited in China Academy of Art in 2006 is like a diary mixed with words and painting，showing the dialogues between the artist and himself，and exploring the meaning behind existence.

However，since 2009，replicating things linked to his growth has become less effective in bringing ‘peace’ to him. In the course of Qiu Xiaofei’s mother falling ill and being treated，Qiu started to think of his own painting from a different angle. In terms of style，he has changed from replicating his growth experience to creating more abstract works. Emotions of reminiscences have slowly faded away from his paintings，replaced by a kind of unpredicted absurdity.

‘Losing Myself in Summer River’，the lot offered this season，was created in 2009，during Qiu Xiaofei’s critical transitional stage. From issues of human relationship，he has turned his mind to issues of self. The man in the painting with his back to the viewers is a self-expression of the artist. The man walks towards the rushing waters with purplish red mud，seemingly reflecting on the relationship between himself and this constructed beautiful world，and choosing to hide the realistic world gradually. The man in the painting is dressed in black，with his back showing，his hands on the sides of his body and his head slightly tilting left，and looking forward into far distance. His body language conveys a hint of delicate tension. The mid shot of the painting is a deep purple that is extending to the front，like think woods on the sides of a river，vaguely showing the channel to a valley. Far away are the colours of the clouds，accompanying the view that is either sunrise or sunset in the distant view. Another whole new world is suggested，and this adds some points for ponder for the painting. As for the still landscape，Qiu Xiaofei presents hidden emotions through the running waters. His brushes of the waters are full of rhythm and expression，and are like the clashes of waters full of power and movement. Cold colours and warm colours complement one another in the whole piece of work，but the back of the lone figure does not seem lonely. Viewers can virtually feel the strong emotions of the figure and his thirst for the future through the painting.

According to Czech writer Václav Havel’s theory，an artist’s first phase of creations usually depends on the his/her first experiences and presentation towards the world. He drew an analogy between a new stage with change of creative style and ‘the second gust of wind’. In this piece of work，Qiu Xiaofei has exactly compared the man in the painting to himself，showing a psychological process of ‘the second gust of wind’. The rushing waters in midsummer represent the unrest of his turning point in artistic creation，and also his reflections and doubts towards his own life. Though only the back is seen，but the heaviness of ‘lost’ is revealing，and this piece of work is a piece of gem because the artist speaks for himself in it.

Price estimate:
HKD：500,000 - 800,000
USD：64,500 - 103,200

Auction Result:
HKD : 613,600