Oil on canvas

200×210 cm. 78 3/4×82 5/8 in.

Signed in pinyin and dated on bottom right; dated on the reverse
PROVENANCE
27 Jul 1989, Christie's London Impressionist and Modern Paintings and Sculpture Sale, Lot 438
Acquired directly by present private Asian collector from the above

Honouring the Tide of the Times
The Glorious Year under Yue Minjun's Brushes

Yue Minjun, a leading artist of the "Cynical Realism" movement, is known throughout the world for his grinning figures. Time described him as: "If the big-picture question of our time is what to make of China, this is the man to paint it". His works have appeared in many auctions and are in the collections of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Denver Art Museum, ARTE MUSEUM Busan, François Mitterrand Cultural Center, and the M+ in Hong Kong, among other important institutions.

If "grinning" expresses the confusion, boredom and false mentality of Chinese society under consumerism, then the Manipulation series, which was born in 1996, is Yue Minjun's way of breaking away from the habit of creation and exploring the true meaning of art in a more profound way. Inspired by the Photoshop process of changing the shape and style of a picture, he "manipulates" the creation, changing the original attributes of the portrait on the canvas with successive circles, smudges, or writing, and weaving the memory of the times with the marks. According to available information, there are only around 20 works in this series, and only four of them have appeared in the auction, which is extremely rare. Manipulation 6 is one of the representative works in this series.

A Youthful Life Outlined by Circles

The grey and white colour scheme of Manipulation 6 creates a nostalgic style like old photographs, and is one of the artist's rare works that show warmth and affection. In the picture, several young girls in gymnastic uniforms are gathered together to warm up. In the foreground, the girl's tense leg forms a beautiful curve, and her arm is stretched straight back like a graceful swan. The girls in the back are attracted to her and give her a complimentary look. The black-and-white light and shadows are a permanent memory of their lives.

On top of the realistic scene, the continuing circles break the calmness of the picture, like a hand-knitted woolen ball of memories. The girls' faces are deliberately blurred, leaving only vague smiles. Because of the strict requirements of gymnastics, many athletes begin practising at a young age. Their athletic careers are short-lived, and in the eyes of the public, they might remain forever in their teenage years. However, they represent national confidence and brilliant achievements. Yue Minjun takes this opportunity to create something out of the ordinary to pay homage to those who have been brave and fearless in the waves of the times.

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