Artwork Description

Title: Mao Zedong
Artist: Xing Jianjian
Date: n.d.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 47.2 x 15.7 in (120 x 40 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
In this compelling portrait Title:d Mao Zedong, Xing Jianjian reimagines one of the most iconic figures of modern China through a fusion of classical realism and bold, expressive abstraction. Painted in a narrow vertical format, Mao’s visage emerges from a luminous, cosmic-blue and ochre background, while a vivid red hammer and sickle symbol dominates the lower canvas. This juxtaposition of realism and painterly gesture invites contemplation on ideological legacy and artistic freedom.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Xing Jianjian blends expressionism and symbolism within the framework of classical realism, a hallmark of his mature style. Here, Mao’s face is delicately modeled yet partially abstracted with energetic overlays of color, texture, and painterly scrapes. The strong emphasis on color symbolism—red for revolution, gold for authority—recalls propaganda art while simultaneously subverting it through expressive ambiguity. The composition transforms a familiar image into a poetic meditation on power and myth.

3. Historical Context
Mao Zedong remains one of the most potent cultural symbols in Chinese history, and his image has been appropriated across decades of political and artistic discourse. This work likely draws from both the historical reverence associated with Mao and the post-1980s artistic movements that re-evaluated national iconography through personal and critical lenses. Jianjian’s nuanced approach reflects the legacy of Cultural Revolution aesthetics while infusing it with personal expression and contemporary interpretation.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The artwork is in very good condition. The canvas is well-stretched, the paint layers are stable, and there are no visible signs of deterioration or prior restoration.

6. Artistic Significance
This painting exemplifies Xing Jianjian’s unique ability to merge technical skill with symbolic weight. Mao Zedong is not a static tribute but an active site of reflection, where the interplay of figure and abstraction challenges viewers to confront the complexities of memory, ideology, and identity. Its bold aesthetic and historical gravitas make it a significant work within Jianjian’s oeuvre and a powerful contribution to the discourse of contemporary Chinese painting.