Li Xiaoke

signed XIAOKE, titled, inscribed, dated 2004 and with five seals of the artist

Sotheby's Hong Kong, 5 April, 2009, lot 442                          
Acquired by the present owner from the above

Overall in good condition
"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."

Li Xiaoke's training in the arts began at a young age, following in the footsteps of his father Li Keran, the famed ink artist known for his striking modern realist landscape painting. After diligently developing his painting skills at the Beijing Academy of Art and later at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, Li Xiaoke went abroad to attend a two-year program led by the renowned Matazo Kayama in Japan in the 1980s. During his time abroad, Li developed a distinct painting style, enjoyed for its romanticism and nostalgia for days gone by.

Homeland presents an aerial view of a dense hutong neighborhood in Beijing. With a wistful sincerity, Li depicts a sprawling scene of residents and cyclists meandering through the narrow pathways of the old capital. Dating back to the Yuan dynasty, Beijing's hutong neighborhoods are distinguished by narrow alleys lined with courtyard homes, shops and restaurants. They are regarded as one of the city's most defining and beloved characteristics. However, China's breakneck modernization has led to the rapid destruction of the city's hutongs, few of which remain. The work is part of Li Xiaoke's Beijing Series—nostalgic reminiscences of the "Old Beijing" where the artist spent his formative years.