Artwork Description

Title: No.20140 608
Artist: Li Gang (Chinese, b. 1962)
Date: Undated
Medium: Ink and mixed media on paper
Dimensions: 12.6 x 70.9 in (32 x 180 cm)

Artwork Identification
No.20140 608 is an elongated ink and mixed-media work by Chinese artist Li Gang, known for his conceptual reinvention of the ink painting tradition. Executed in a landscape scroll format measuring 32 by 180 cm, the piece presents a richly layered, non-figurative surface composed through folding, imprinting, tearing, and ink saturation. The resulting composition eschews brushwork in favor of physical manipulation, resulting in a visual field that is at once tactile, contemplative, and highly original.

Artistic Style and Influences
Li Gang's distinctive style is grounded in Chinese ink aesthetics yet departs radically from its formal norms. Rather than adhering to brush-based literati painting traditions, Li reinterprets the ink medium as a performative, almost sculptural act. No.20140 608 exemplifies this process-driven approach, with ink spreading organically across textured paper, shaped by folding, soaking, and imprinting. His method disrupts conventional notions of composition, favoring a Daoist sense of spontaneity and non-intervention, while conceptually aligning with Western abstraction and material art.

Historical Context
Born in Guangdong in 1962, Li Gang matured artistically during the transformative decades of the 1980s and 1990s, a time when traditional media like ink painting underwent critical reevaluation in China. While trained in classical techniques, Li developed a highly experimental practice that sought to retain ink's philosophical essence while expanding its expressive possibilities. His Ink Elements series—of which this work is a part—emerged during a broader revival of interest in contemporary ink, as artists responded to globalization with deeply localized, culturally rooted innovations.

Provenance and Authenticity
This work belongs to Li Gang’s ongoing Ink Elements body of work and comes from a private collection. It is consistent with other authenticated works by the artist, featuring his hallmark techniques and compositional philosophy. Li Gang’s work has been exhibited in contemporary ink art surveys and is increasingly held in public and private collections in Asia and abroad. Documentation may be available upon request to confirm provenance and authenticity in keeping with standard market practices.

Condition and Conservation
The work is in excellent condition. The paper substrate is structurally sound, with no tears, warping, or discoloration beyond those inherent to the artist’s process. All visible folds, creases, and ink accumulations are part of the intended visual vocabulary. If previously mounted, conservation-safe materials were used. No restoration has been undertaken or recommended.

Artistic Significance
No.20140 608 reflects Li Gang’s central position in the evolution of Chinese ink art from tradition to contemporary innovation. Its minimalist structure and meditative rhythm reflect a profound understanding of both cultural heritage and conceptual practice. As one of the few artists to redefine ink not just in appearance but in methodology, Li continues to influence the discourse around East Asian abstraction. Works such as this—subtle yet radical—are increasingly sought after for their intellectual rigor and enduring aesthetic resonance.