Artwork Description

Title: You Can't Escape My Palm 10
Artist: Xinlin Jiang
Date: 2014
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 15.7 x 11.8 in (40 x 30 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
In You Can't Escape My Palm 10, Xinlin Jiang delivers a striking and allegorical composition where a gestural hand delicately manipulates a puppet-like blue figure against a textured crimson backdrop. Measuring 40 x 30 cm, this oil on canvas is a visually arresting exploration of power and vulnerability, executed with Jiang’s signature blend of expressive realism and surreal tension.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Jiang’s work in this series draws from expressionist and surrealist traditions, with bold colors and symbolic figuration. The marionette motif—evoking themes of control, destiny, and submission—intersects with the painterly quality of the hand rendered in earthy tones. His chromatic contrast and narrative symbolism echo both post-war European painting and the psychological undercurrents often found in contemporary Chinese figuration.

3. Historical Context
Painted in 2014, this work is situated within a series created during a time of social, philosophical, and artistic introspection in China. Jiang’s practice reflects broader conversations in contemporary Chinese art around autonomy, identity, and the unseen forces shaping modern life. The recurring hand motif in this series functions as both protector and manipulator, subtly referencing both spiritual and political interpretations.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The artwork is structurally stable but shows selective cracking, primarily along the right edge of the canvas. This condition is likely related to the use of zinc white as a primary pigment in the ground layer, which can cause inner fractures due to dimensional shifts or mechanical stress. These signs include delamination and chalking, consistent with known conservation concerns associated with zinc-based grounds. Aside from this localized issue, the work is in very good condition and retains strong visual impact. Professional conservation is not immediately required but may be advisable for long-term preservation.

6. Artistic Significance
You Can't Escape My Palm 10 holds a compelling position within Xinlin Jiang’s oeuvre, encapsulating his interest in psychological symbolism and existential unease. The puppet figure suspended by invisible threads resonates with contemporary themes of human agency and manipulation. As part of a broader series, the painting contributes meaningfully to Jiang’s evolving narrative on vulnerability and control, making it an important and thought-provoking addition to any collection of contemporary Chinese art.