Artwork Description

Title: You Belong to Me
Artist: Ning Yue
Date: Undated
Medium: Oil on panel
Dimensions: 10.63 × 10.63 in (27 × 27 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
You Belong to Me by Ning Yue is a small-scale oil on panel painting featuring a stylized penguin adorned with a striped scarf, set against an arid, desert-like landscape punctuated by cacti. Within the penguin’s head, a smaller pink figure appears to be asleep, introducing a layered and introspective narrative. In the background, a yellow suitcase and a kite add further symbolic elements to this whimsical composition, emphasizing surreal juxtapositions.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
The painting aligns with Surrealism and contemporary whimsical realism, blending elements of playful fantasy with subconscious symbolism. Ning Yue’s work recalls the dreamlike qualities of artists such as René Magritte, though reinterpreted through a distinctly modern and culturally hybrid lens. The anthropomorphic penguin and dislocated desert setting evoke themes of displacement, identity, and inner consciousness.

3. Historical Context
Created in the context of 21st-century Chinese contemporary art, Ning Yue’s work reflects the growing interest in personal symbolism and surreal narratives as a counterpoint to earlier movements focused on social commentary or political critique. This period has seen Chinese artists engage in global dialogues on identity and imagination, often using fantastical imagery to explore psychological or existential themes within a rapidly modernizing cultural landscape.

4. Provenance and Authenticity
Please contact the gallery directly for provenance details and authenticity certification.

5. Condition and Conservation
The painting is presumed to be in excellent condition, given the durability of oil on panel as a medium. There is no visible evidence of surface damage, discoloration, or restoration. Preventive conservation should include maintaining stable environmental conditions and avoiding prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.

6. Artistic Significance
You Belong to Me exemplifies Ning Yue’s playful yet contemplative approach, merging the absurd with the intimate. The surreal composition invites interpretations about identity, belonging, and the subconscious, making it significant for collectors interested in contemporary Asian surrealism and narrative-driven art. Its intimate scale further enhances its personal and collectible appeal.