Oil on canvas

80×60 cm. 31 1/2×23 5/8 in.

Signed with initials and dated on bottom right
PROVENANCE
Private Collection, Asia

Nature's Whispers of Motion and Stillness
The Debut of Yi Ming's Oil Painting

Born in Hubei in 1974, Yi Ming graduated from the Central Academy of Drama in 2000 and has since become a prominent figure in the world of film and television art design. He served as the chief visual designer for both the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, making him the only artist to have contributed to both events. In his paintings, Yi excels at blending Eastern spirituality with Western abstract expression, using vibrant colours to convey emotional atmospheres. In 2024, his works were exhibited alongside those of renowned artists such as Huang Yongyu, Han Meilin, and Chen Danqing at the Beijing Olympics Museum. His art has been collected by notable figures including former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and former Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Gentle Breezes and Secret Swims

Yi Ming deeply admires the "negative space" aesthetics in the traditional Chinese paintings. In his own work, he strives to achieve a delicate balance between "emptiness" and "fullness." Unlike traditional practices of leaving blank space, Yi boldly fills his canvases with colour, recreating the awe-inspiring beauty of nature. This characteristic is vividly displayed in Wind Whispers, created in 2021, which marks his first oil painting to appear at auction.

Wind Whispers captures a secluded coastal scene using high-contrast shades of blue and green. On the right side of the canvas, lush green leaves are depicted with meticulous detail, appearing both vibrant and delicately tender. On the left, the sea is rendered in deep blue, its surface seemingly calm and profound at first glance. Upon closer inspection, subtle variations in colour, achieved through thin layers of paint, reveal gentle ripples that hint at the touch of a soft breeze. A purple-blue curve extends from the bottom of the canvas toward the centre of the sea, resembling a swimmer with arms outstretched, gliding freely like a fish. The painting exudes a sense of tranquillity while also conveying subtle motion and vitality, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in this harmonious natural landscape and find solace for both body and mind.

Price estimate:
HKD 200,000 – 300,000
USD 25,600 – 38,500