Acrylic on canvas

120×150 cm. 47 1/4×59 in.

Signed in Chinese and dated on the reverse
PROVENANCE
HdM Gallery, Beijing
Acquired directly by present private Asian collector from the above

Millennial Individualism
Ye Linghan's Digital Brushstrokes

Chinese young artist Ye Linghan, born in 1985, showcased extraordinary painting talent during his studies at the China Academy of Art. He strives to stay contemporary in his creations, and in 2016, the year of AI, he drew inspiration from AI and big data to create the Lucy series. Named after the first female hominid discovered through archaeology, Lucy blends computer graphics, hand-drawing, and spray painting techniques to craft a neon-filled world where reality and virtuality intertwine.

Inspiration and Innovation: A Soul's Transmission

In creating the Lucy series, Linghan's process involves first applying vibrant paints on canvas with a scraper to set the overall direction. The image is then photographed and imported into a computer, where it undergoes graphic processing in Photoshop, adding materials and a random selection of images, repeatedly shifting and transforming until the composition achieves a balance of aesthetics and logic. Finally, Linghan meticulously hand-paints the digital image onto the canvas, a cyclical process resulting from continuous interaction between him and the computer. He emphasizes that, even in a world with advanced productivity, he wishes to retain certain highly personal elements, as this texture is the best conveyance of an artist's spirit.

Lucy-F-008, created in 2019, is a classic representation of this series. The work continues Linhan's signature vibrant neon colours, with hues of red, pink, yellow, and green leaping and weaving within established blocks and boundaries. The figures are outlined in solid black lines, with arms shaded in black and grey tones, illustrating overlapping, intersecting human forms that express movement trajectories. In the centre of the canvas, a rocket-shaped object launches towards the upper left, symbolizing humanity's relentless pursuit of exploration into space and the unknown. Upon closer inspection, one can see the painterly texture where shapes and colours intersect, reflecting the artist's pursuit of layered logic and precision aesthetics.

Evolution and Innovation: A Digital Reflection

Linghan's works, symbolize the evolution and transformation of individuals in the modern, intelligent era. These forms encapsulate our physical bodies, social relationships, personalities, ideals, and pursuits, showcasing art with great ingenuity. The myriad "Lucys" represent a new birth in a parallel time and space, and also signify "us" and the artist, navigating between reason and emotion in the post-internet era, exploring the eternal value of art in an ever-changing world.

Price estimate:
HKD 80,000 - 120,000
USD 10,300 – 15,400

Auction Result:
HKD: 96,000