Artwork Description

Title: Cheers 57
Artist: Su Xinping
Date: 2008
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 74.8 x 63 in (190 x 160 cm)

Artwork Identification
Cheers 57 is a commanding oil on canvas by Su Xinping, measuring 190 by 160 cm. The work forms part of the artist’s acclaimed Toasting series, in which the formal gesture of raising a glass becomes a sharp visual metaphor for performative social rituals. Executed in Su’s signature figurative style, the painting presents a solitary or grouped figure—or in some cases an implied audience—caught in the ironic theater of ceremonial civility. The work's muted palette and stark composition further reinforce its critical tone.

Artistic Style and Influences
Su Xinping’s practice is deeply informed by realism and Chinese contemporary visual culture, yet marked by a psychological depth and restraint that transcends narrative illustration. His works often channel the tension between external conformity and internal alienation, using a limited chromatic range and a stage-like composition to great effect. The Toasting series, of which Cheers 57 is a notable example, draws on the tradition of Chinese figuration while introducing conceptual subtext influenced by social realism and Western existential painting.

Historical Context
Created in the context of China’s rapid economic expansion and shifting social structure, Cheers 57 reflects the ambiguous rituals of status, power, and connection in the post-reform era. Su’s work in this period critiques the rise of performative politeness in corporate and political life, as modernization often diluted sincere human interaction. The painting stands as a nuanced response to the psychological costs of societal transformation in late 20th- and early 21st-century China.

Provenance and Authenticity
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

Condition and Conservation
The painting is in very good condition. The surface shows minor abrasion marks but is otherwise clean and stable, with no paint loss, or restoration.

Artistic Significance
Cheers 57 exemplifies Su Xinping’s powerful critique of social conformity and ritualized behavior in modern China. The work's psychological precision and formal elegance mark it as a cornerstone of his mature oeuvre. With its rich conceptual foundation and institutional recognition, this painting offers collectors a rare opportunity to acquire a major work by one of China’s most internationally respected contemporary artists.