Yue Minjun

Chinese Contemporary, London
Acquired directly from the above by the present owner in 2000

London, Chinese Contemporary, Yue Minjun: Red Ocean, 2000, p. 27, illustrated in colour

Karen Smith, Yue Minjun: The Lost Self, Beijing 2005, p. 137, illustrated in colour

Colours: The colours in the catalogue illustration are fairly accurate although the background has more purpe highlights in the original, notably to the tips of the clouds and to the left and right of the figure's shoulders. The overall tonality is also slightly softer in the original. Condition: This work is in very good condition. No restoration is apparent under ultra-violet light.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

"Yue Minjun's artistic creation has pretentious narrative manners, uninhibited imagination, self indulgence and cynical tones toward existence which put in bold relief the nature of existence. It makes his works showy yet intelligent, fantastic yet realistic and disordered yet well composed. We get no overall delight from viewing the works, but when we immerse ourselves in every scene that seems to be absurd, and ruminate over every conversation that sneer, brag, satire and tease, we are impressed by the unreasonable human nature, absurdness of survival: the artist's oppugning radiates from their expressions."

(Feng Boyi, 'To Be is Just absurd: The Art of Yue Minjun' in Feng Boyi, Ed., REPRODUCTION ICONS; Yue Minjun: Works 2004-2006, Shenzhen 2006, p. 8)