Artwork Description

Title: Five Indulgences

Artist:
Pang Maokun

Date:
2011

Medium:
Oil on canvas

Dimensions:
70.9 × 102.4 in (180 × 260 cm)

1. Artwork Identification:
Five Indulgences is a monumental and visually arresting oil painting by contemporary Chinese artist Pang Maokun, measuring 180 × 260 centimeters and presented in a custom frame. The work presents a meticulously rendered surreal tableau: against a stark, velvety black background, a muted blue-gray surface supports a sparse arrangement of dreamlike elements. At either edge of the composition, disembodied sections of the human form emerge—on the left, a pair of nude legs suspended mid-air in an elegant, almost balletic pose; on the right, an outstretched arm and open hand reach delicately toward the center. Between them rest two enigmatic, coral-like or gear-shaped objects that appear simultaneously organic and manufactured, their porous textures inviting tactile speculation. The resulting scene is one of poetic ambiguity, at once serene and unsettling.

2. Artistic Style and Influences:
Pang Maokun is celebrated for his sophisticated fusion of academic realism and conceptual surrealism. In Five Indulgences, his refined classical technique is deployed in service of an evocative, metaphysical vision. The highly naturalistic depiction of limbs and surface textures contrasts starkly with the dreamlike, abstract space, evoking the influence of both Renaissance anatomical studies and the theatrical stillness of Giorgio de Chirico or René Magritte. The surreal isolation of body parts and ambiguous artifacts mirrors the psychological intensity often found in Chinese contemporary art, while also recalling the philosophical detachment of European metaphysical painting.

3. Historical Context:
Produced in the post-1990s wave of Chinese contemporary realism, Five Indulgences reflects Pang’s ongoing engagement with themes of time, embodiment, and transformation. In a cultural climate increasingly focused on materialism, fragmentation, and alienation, Pang’s work stands apart for its meditative poise and philosophical depth. This painting, with its Title: evoking religious or moral ambiguity, resonates with broader narratives around spiritual yearning, detachment, and the elusive mechanics of desire. The contrast between mechanical forms and the vulnerability of flesh situates the piece within a global tradition of postmodern allegory, where the body becomes a site of tension between purity and complexity.

4. Provenance and Authenticity:
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation:
The painting is in excellent condition. The oil surface is clean and stable, with no evidence of craquelure, restoration, or discoloration. The canvas is professionally stretched, and the frame is structurally secure, showing only minimal wear from handling. No conservation treatment is required at present.

6. Artistic Significance:
Five Indulgences stands as a deeply contemplative and technically virtuosic example of Pang Maokun’s oeuvre. Its haunting juxtaposition of human fragility and abstract form invites multiple readings—philosophical, spiritual, psychological—each anchored by the artist’s command of form and atmosphere. The work’s scale and enigmatic subject matter position it as a centerpiece in any collection of contemporary Chinese art, particularly for collectors interested in figuration, surrealism, and visual metaphor. As the international market continues to deepen its appreciation for Pang’s introspective realism, this painting offers both aesthetic impact and lasting critical value.