Oil on canvas

150×200 cm. 59×78 3/4 in.

Signed in pinyin and dated on bottom left

LITERATURE
2016, You Jin, Parkview Green Art, Beijing, p.13
PROVENANCE
Parkview Green Art, Beijing
Important Private Collection, Asia

The Boundless Universe of the Collector
The Kaleidoscopic World of You Jin

Graduating from the Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts in 2005, You Jin demonstrated extraordinary talent early on. While still in university, his works were selected for numerous international exhibitions, including the Scene China: China Artwork Exhibition in Paris in 2003. Three years after graduation, he was inspired by computer-generated code-based images, translating seemingly chaotic yet inherently logical spatial compositions into his unique visual language, which he termed "garbled characters." This innovation positioned him as a pioneering artist of the digital era. In 2014, he boldly began merging different spatial perspectives, creating a multidimensional sensory experience that defied conventional viewpoints. His 2016 piece, Collector, fully embodies the artistic breakthroughs of this period.

A Mysterious and Expansive Palace of the Mind

Like the abstract paintings of the Russian artist Wassily Kandinsky, which possess a strong musical quality, Collector distils a surreal universe from radiating geometric forms. Within a soft yellow room, You Jin employs multi-perspective, scattered viewpoints to depict a multidimensional stairway at the centre of the composition. Surrounding it, like a mountain of treasure, is a mesmerizing array of collected objects, forming a boundless "collection world" that defies gravity and floats freely in space. The colours, interwoven spatial layers, and intricate details are astonishingly rich.

At the heart of the painting, the protagonist stands atop this treasure trove, smiling and holding a long baton like an orchestra conductor, reviewing his collection. At first glance, the objects appear to be real-world artefacts, yet upon closer inspection, their contours dissolve into fluid, abstract brushstrokes, weaving a dazzling, dreamlike realm. This transition from representation to abstraction reflects You Jin's dramatic artistic approach—his work is not merely a reproduction of the material world but an exploration of the spiritual one. Each collected object represents an extension of the protagonist's personality, thoughts, values, and aesthetic sensibilities, forming a kaleidoscopic "palace of the mind" that invites viewers to pause, revisit, and marvel at its wonder.

Price estimate:
HKD 300,000 – 400,000
USD 38,500 – 51,300