Oil on canvas

70 x 110 cm. 27 5/9 x 43 1/3 in.

Signed in Chinese and pinyin, and dated on bottom right
EXHIBITED
15 – 19 Jul 2009, the 11th National Art Exhibition Hunan Provenance Excellent Works Exhibition, Hunan Exhibition Hall, Changsha
28 Sep – 8 Oct 2009, Hunan Art in 60 Years Exhibition, Changsha Bamboo Slips Museum, Changsha

PROVENANCE
10 Nov 2009, Beijing Hanhai Autumn Auction, Lot 2669
Private Collection, Asia

Classical Brushwork with Contemporary Narrative
Zeng Chuanxing's Reflection on Our Time

Being an adherent to classical realism painting, Zeng Chuanxing transcends its expression of authenticity and develops a rich and diversified contemporary narrative, through his meticulous brushwork and insinuation of the modern society. Zeng is known for his portraits, among which the painting, Women Portrait(Lot 154), is of great representativeness. Since 2004, he has been devoted to the Paper Bride series, which marks the transformation of his visual language and reflects his constant thinking about marriage. The work, Dusk Skyline: Bride in Paper Series No.1(Lot 153), is such a typical example.

A Classical Charm from Afar
With the background colored in celadon and the image in profile, the work Woman Portrait, bears an aura of elegance, reminiscent of the Renaissance master Sandro Botticelli. The exquisite facial features and ethnic feather garment of the depicted girl finely set each other off. While capturing the delicate texture and exotic atmosphere, the painting places the audience in a realm of individual life that cannot be ignored.

A Modern Reflection on the Paper Wedding Dress
In Dusk Skyline: Bride in Paper Series No.1, Zeng continues the classical realism painting techniques in depicting the character's temperament, while the paper costume has set a different tone for the work. In the clothing that simulates wedding dress, the bride transforms into a symbolic and conceptual image. The breakable clothing is a portrayal of modern marriage, but the soul of the girl under the fragile paper dress still possesses a sense of autonomy. Set off against the twilight horizon in the background, the fiery wedding dress re-defines the beauty of modern women within an uninhabited land. Zeng interprets the complex sentiments of our times with classical brushstrokes, examines the true desire of the character through the artistic paper wedding dress, and develops the dual connotations of beauty from the outside in.

Price estimate:
HKD: 80,000 - 100,000
USD: 10,200 – 12,800

Auction Result:
HKD: 448,400