Oil on canvas

150 x 110 cm. 59 × 43 1/4 in.

Signed in pinyin and dated on bottom right; signed and titled in Chinese and dated on the reverse
EXHIBITED
30 Apr – 31 Dec 2013, Time – Zhang Yexing Project, Platform China Contemporary Art Institute, Beijing

PROVENANCE
Platform China Contemporary Art Institute, Beijing
Acquired directly by present important private Asian collector from the above

Montage of Memory
Zhang Yexing's Theatre of Life

Born in 1981 in Shenyang, Zhang Yexing received his Bachelor's degree from the Central Academy of Fine Arts in 2008. Upon graduation, he started to work as a stage setter at school and began to use the stage as his inspiration for creating dramatic interior paintings. Being a native of Northeast China, Zhang Yexing also incorporates the calm of northern Chinese artists into his works, resulting in tightly structured narrative paintings. Untitled-Barber Shop presented at this auction was created in 2012. The artist's solid technique and the dramatic, suspenseful effects present a thought-provoking picture that originates from life but transcends reality.

In this barbershop, two chairs are lined up in front of a mirror, while the glass cabinet between the two mirrors is neatly arranged with bottles and jars of hair colouring and shampooing products, demonstrating a space of order. The artist's repeated overlapping, rich brushstrokes along with the cool tone of the painting create an atmosphere of suspense. Although there is no human character, the traces of human presence are created through the bright lamps and the toiletries on the table, giving the painting a sense of Edward Hopper's works, presenting a dramatic moment with a restrained yet powerful expression.

It is worth paying attention to the fact that most of the shapes in the paintings are structured with rectangles and circles, forming a precise and geometrical space. Then the visual effect of the painting is enriched and full of tension in the changing shapes. With the help of thick paint, the artist presents the depth of the space intuitively. The details of lights and shadows on surfaces create a visual movement. The light conveys comfort and hope, while the shadows are a kind of sadness and mystery of the old time that has passed away.
Zhang Yexing says, "There is so much to explore and discover on canvas, so I choose to stay in one medium to explore the rules of painting". This was how his work finally took shape. As he says, "Painting is the art of time, it freezes time on the canvas, and I want my work to be frozen in time." These paintings are like the places where life passes through, which forms a montage of memories.

Price estimate:
HKD 80,000 – 150,000
USD 10,300 – 19,200