Artwork Description

Title:Mysterious

Artist
Yin Zhaoyang

Date
2007

Medium:
Oil on canvas stretched on wooden panel

Dimensions
39.4 × 31.9 in (100 × 81 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
Mysterious is a striking example of Yin Zhaoyang’s mature abstract vocabulary, composed of concentric textured rings radiating outward from a vivid, fiery core of yellow and red. The swirling application of oil paint—thick, dynamic, and richly impastoed—conveys movement, energy, and an elemental intensity. The chromatic spectrum ranges from incandescent reds and yellows at the center to darker hues and cool greys toward the periphery, creating a visual and psychological vortex that draws the viewer inward.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Originally associated with the "Cruelty of Youth" movement in the 1990s, Yin transitioned in the 2000s toward introspective abstraction and spiritual exploration. Mysterious exemplifies this shift, blending emotive brushwork with a symbolically charged composition. His technique—involving circular layering and repetitive gestures—bears affinities with both Buddhist mandalas and post-war abstraction (e.g. Gerhard Richter’s squeegee works), yet it is unmistakably personal and contemporary.

3. Historical Context
Created in 2007, Mysterious aligns with the period when Yin Zhaoyang moved away from figurative representations of youth and began exploring metaphysical and psychological themes. As part of his broader inquiry into myth, utopia, and façade, this work suggests a cosmological or existential meditation, reflecting both the turbulence and the transcendence of modern existence in China’s post-reform era.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The artwork is in very good condition. The surface retains the original texture and luminosity. The oil layers are stable with no evidence of craquelure or flaking, and the support panel remains structurally sound.

6. Artistic Significance
Yin Zhaoyang is a pivotal figure in Chinese contemporary painting, bridging emotional narrative and formal innovation. Mysterious stands as a prime example of his “spiritual landscape” phase, distinguished by its radiant structure and immersive energy. The painting offers a powerful encounter with abstraction that transcends cultural boundaries, situating Yin among China’s most compelling artistic voices of the 21st century.