Artwork Description

Title: Snake-God
Artist: Guo Wei
Date: n.d.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 39.4 x 31.5 in (100 x 80 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
Snake-God by Guo Wei is a haunting and psychologically charged composition that exemplifies the artist’s mastery of distorted realism and symbolic figuration. Rendered in stark monochromatic tones, the figure—likely a child—emerges from a murky background, its face partially obscured by abstract swirls and expressive paintwork. The Title: suggests a mythic or spiritual layer, transforming the subject into a totemic figure that hovers between innocence and menace.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Guo Wei is best known for his realistic depictions of youth, often altered with surreal or grotesque distortions that mirror psychological unease. His palette in Snake-God is subdued, dominated by variations of black, grey, and cream, allowing form and gesture to speak louder than color. The expressive brushstrokes and abstracted areas recall elements of neo-expressionism, while the ghostly rendering of the figure echoes influences from post-Socialist realism and psychological portraiture.

3. Historical Context
Emerging in the post-1989 generation of Chinese contemporary artists, Guo Wei’s work speaks to the sense of alienation and identity crisis in a rapidly transforming society. The child figure in Snake-God can be read as a symbol of a generation caught between tradition and modernization, burdened by both historical memory and uncertain futures. The painting exists within the broader discourse of Chinese contemporary art that critiques authority, social conformity, and spiritual emptiness.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The painting is in very good condition. The surface is stable, the canvas is taut, and no restoration work appears to be necessary.

6. Artistic Significance
Snake-God is emblematic of Guo Wei’s ability to blend psychological depth with visual tension. His portrayal of children—at once fragile and symbolically loaded—offers a penetrating commentary on the fractured identity of modern China’s youth. This work is not merely a portrait, but an allegory of the inner conflict between power and vulnerability, spirituality and disillusionment. Guo’s position within the Chinese contemporary canon makes this an important and compelling addition to any serious collection.