Oil on canvas

170×170 cm. 66 7/8×66 7/8 in.

Titled and signed in Chinese and dated on the reverse
EXHIBITED
11 May – 8 Jun 2024, Speak, Memory, Soka Art Centre, Beijing

PROVENANCE
Soka Art Centre, Beijing
Important Private Collection, Asia

Unveiling the Mysteries:
Zhao Bo's Timeless Dialogues

Born in 1984 in Liaoning, Zhao Bo uses his unique artistic language to lead viewers into a serene world beyond reality. In 2011, he graduated from the LuXun Academy of Fine Arts and was selected as the sole representative among current students to participate in an exchange program at the Oslo National Academy of the Arts in Norway. Since 2007, his works have been frequently exhibited in Beijing, Oslo, and Seoul, and he has held solo exhibitions in Taipei, Beijing, Chongqing, and other cities, gradually shaping his international artistic vision. With delicate brushstrokes, Zhao Bo depicts nature, guiding viewers into a pure space free from noise and distraction.

Transcendent Echoes: Dialogues on Life's Essence Through the Veil of Mist

Completed in 2018, Mist is a painting that, with meticulous and precise brushstrokes, depicts a world both familiar and shrouded in mystery. A pyramid stands amidst the sea, seemingly at the intersection of history and nature. The mist-covered scene creates a surreal atmosphere, making the work more than just a landscape; it is a profound reflection on the complex relationship between human civilization and the forces of nature.

The pyramid, an iconic symbol of ancient Egypt, represents not only the tombs of pharaohs but also the grandeur of power and the notion of eternal existence—an emblem of "immortality" that Zhao Bo has consistently depicted since 2012. In this painting, the pyramid transcends its real-world desert setting, placed instead atop a vast, tumultuous ocean. The ocean symbolizes nature's boundlessness and the uncontrollable, unknown forces within it, while the mist further blurs the boundaries between reality and dream, evoking a surreal mirage.

This interplay between the real and the illusory prompts viewers to contemplate the contemporary human condition and the essence of life. The seemingly eternal and magnificent human civilization, here, is enveloped and surpassed by the greater forces of nature. Zhao Bo seems to remind us of the necessity to embrace impermanence, to approach the pursuit of power with humility and reverence, especially in an era of limitless expansion and information overload.

Within his painting, time, space, and emotion intertwine, creating an indescribable beauty and depth. Ultimately, what remains with the viewer is a sense of tranquility and clarity, as if a way of conversing with the world has been found within the mist. Beneath the calm tones lies a reverence for the unknown and a celebration of life itself.

Price estimate:
HKD 100,000 – 120,000
USD 12,800 – 15,400

Auction Result:
HKD: 120,000