- 911
Liu Wei
Estimate
1,800,000 - 2,500,000 HKD
bidding is closed
Description
- Liu Wei
- Swimming
- oil on board and painted wooden frame
signed in Chinese and dated 1994, framed
Provenance
Acquired directly from the artist
Phillips de Pury & Company London, 23 April, 2010, lot 32
Phillips de Pury & Company London, 23 April, 2010, lot 32
Condition
This work is generally in good condition. Series of minor craquelures can be seen on the wooden frame, espicailly around the corners. Please note that it was not examined under ultraviolet light and out of its frame.
"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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
Liu Wei and Fang Lijun are the leading figures of Cynical Realism. They both came to the theme of swimming on their own and used it as a means to express their political attitude. In their images of ennui and meaninglessness, politics dissolved into insignificance. The artists confronted society with an insouciant and carefree stance that was highly representative of Chinese contemporary art of the 1990's.
The lot on offer, Swimming from 1994, comes with a frame painted by the artist himself. Swimming was the main theme of Liu's entries in international exhibitions in the early 1990's. From 1993 onwards, he pursued the Hibiscuses Emerging from Water series and also created several more paintings about swimming, including Shui diao ge tou, which featured Mao Zedong as the protagonist. In the next year, Liu was invited with Fang Lijun to participate in the São Paulo Biennial with 8 monumental paintings in the Swimmers series and two paintings in the Beauties Frolicking in Water series. The two artists' swimming-themed works were thus seen on the same occasion. The importance of the various swimming-themed series in Liu's early career cannot be overstated. As one of the very earliest of these works, the lot on offer is of utmost significance and value.
The lot on offer, Swimming from 1994, comes with a frame painted by the artist himself. Swimming was the main theme of Liu's entries in international exhibitions in the early 1990's. From 1993 onwards, he pursued the Hibiscuses Emerging from Water series and also created several more paintings about swimming, including Shui diao ge tou, which featured Mao Zedong as the protagonist. In the next year, Liu was invited with Fang Lijun to participate in the São Paulo Biennial with 8 monumental paintings in the Swimmers series and two paintings in the Beauties Frolicking in Water series. The two artists' swimming-themed works were thus seen on the same occasion. The importance of the various swimming-themed series in Liu's early career cannot be overstated. As one of the very earliest of these works, the lot on offer is of utmost significance and value.