Oil on canvas

199 x 147 cm. 78 1/3 x 57 7/8 in.

Signed in Pinyin and Chinese, dated on middle left
PROVENANCE
Private Collection, Asia

The Turmoil of life: Changing Times

Artists born after 1970 grew up witnessing dramatic changes in Chinese society. They often create art through self-talk, manifesting their individual confusion as well as their doubts and reflections regarding the surrounding world. Li Jikai is an outstanding example. Using his own life experience as a basis, he created a well-travelled, dreamy boy (a reflection of the artist himself), through whom Li was able to constantly examine the connection between his inner and outer world.

Stream comments on how much the artist is eager to release his love for life. The cartoonish style vividly reflects his youthful spirit. In this surreal space, the boy seems deep in thought while floating on a rock, yet his mind is as agitated as the waving water around him. The white lines are a metaphor for the boy's turmoil. In the background, a white lightning flash soars across the sky. Li Jikai used a style reminiscent of graffiti to construct his own inner world. Although the composition of the work seems loose, it constitutes a complete whole. As the boy in the painting resolves all his inner dilemmas, his voice is transmitted through the lightning flash to the outside world. Through him, the artist observes his inner and outer world and interprets his own life as well as the lives of the whole generation of those born after 1970.

Price estimate:
HKD: 80,000 – 120,000
USD: 10,200 – 15,300

Auction Result:
HKD: 94,400