Mixed media on wood panel

81 x 61 cm. 31 7/8 × 24 in.

Signed in pinyin and dated on the reverse
EXHIBITED
22 – 26 Mar 2016, Huang Yishan—Half Open Door , Art Central O2art, Hong Kong

PROVENANCE
Private Collection, Asia
28 Nov 2016, China Guardian Hong Kong Autumn Auction, Lot 1283
Acquired directly by present private Asian collector from the above

The Dialogue between History and Dreamscape
Huang Yishan's Multidimensional Space

Born in 1983, Chinese Contemporary artist Huang Yishan continues to elevate his artistic practice through bold experimentation. Inspired by Huang's father at a young age, the artist first engaged art with etching and painting. In 2006, Huang started his academic training in Oil Painting and Art History from Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts. Graduated in 2009, Huang explored and experimented with various materials, in search of his signatory mark. Known to use wood, porcelain, and mixed media to create a realistic illusion of a multi-dimensional realm, Huang attempts to create a bridge between reality and dreamscape. As part of his iconic series, Huang's "installation painting" became his iconic trademark. For our upcoming season, we are pleased to offer Sketching Easel (Lot 68), an iconic representation of Huang's oeuvre. The mixed media work encompasses wood, porcelain, oil paint, and other mixed-media materials. As materials collide, fluid and solid nature creates an unpredictable reaction. Meanwhile, Entangled (Lot 69), a watercolour work on paper has strong structural and historic connotation with the renowned Roman sculpture Laocoon and His Sons, situated in the Vatican Museum. From a Contemporary lens, it engages a refreshing dialogue between historic and contemporary history. Over the years, Huang's innovative works have been well received and collected by renowned institutions, such as Guangdong Provincial Art Museum, Hubei Museum of Fine Arts, and White Rabbit Gallery, Australia.

Philosophy of Art: a Blend of Uniqueness and Inspiration

As an experimental and creative artist, Huang Yishan wisely twists our perception and knowledge of three-dimensionality with Sketching Easel. In the context of a wall, porcelain tiles are placed neatly in the background. On the left, wet gray cement is added in an angular and upward brushstroke, creating an illusion of movement in a static scenery. By the centre, shades of wooden planks are slotted well to form depth, dimensionality and an imagery of an easel. In addition, a thick wooden plank is added as a highlight by the right of the artwork. This odd element may be perceived as decorative, however under Huang's gesture, the peculiarity enhances a dialogue of reality versus representation. As a creative individual, an easel is an extension of the artist. It can be understood as an artist's backbone of their artistic journey. For Huang, mere representation is dull. Rather, he actively explores new and unconventional methods of representation. In Sketching Easel, the track of blade by the centre implies a dark humour in the realm of super realism. In a sharp angle, the blade acts as a self-reminder for Huang to be cautious in the creative process. As an artist who favors experimentalism, every expression may be a double-sword, a mixed interpretation. Therefore it becomes Huang's responsibility to be aware and alert, for it is through self-criticism and monitoring that Huang can create his unique and intimate artistic language.

Greatness in the Ordinary

As a passionate artist, Huang frequently incorporates art history connotations to his artworks. In Entangled, the iconic Roman sculpture Laocoon echoes throughout Huang's interpretation. In the background, gradients of gray is layered to create dimensionality on paper, meanwhile, also expresses minimalism that is in strong contrast with its historical connotation of drama and struggle of Laocoon and his sons. Along a Contemporary path, dark, trapezoidal lines are marked to form the perception of a flooring marbled surface, which supports the main subject of the Entangled sculpture. From a few simple lines, sculpted figures and essential pythons transformed into entangled white lines, creating an illusion and homage to  Laocoon and His Sons. As our visual and memory involuntarily compares to the classical, viewers are welcome to expand their mind for a space for the imaginative. While this simplistic version exerts a refreshing ambience, the subject of Laocoon echoes a comment made by 18th Century German historian Johann Winkclemann, to which he described the work as a "noble simplicity and silent of greatness (German: Edle Einfalt und stille Größe)".

In the Age of Contemporary, young artists such as Huang Yishan demonstrate adventurous ways of expression and practice. Each artwork breaks conventional standards of the past, and in return, provides a stimulating and new perspective on history, knowledge and reality.

Price estimate:
HKD 160,000 – 250,000
USD 20,500 – 32,100