Artwork Description

Title: Pet Series
Artist: Li Ji
Date: n.d.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 70.9 × 98.4 in (180 × 250 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
Rendered in oil on canvas at a commanding scale of 180 by 250 centimeters, Pet Series by Li Ji presents a surreal tableau that is at once playful and unsettling. Three animals—a pair of puppies and a piglet—occupy a plush, pale blue sofa set against an intense monochromatic red backdrop. Dressed in anthropomorphic attire, with the dogs donning human-style dresses, the composition radiates both whimsy and disquiet, as it blurs the lines between the innocent and the absurd. The tension between cuteness and commentary is masterfully managed in Li’s meticulous technique and theatrical staging.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Li Ji’s work resonates with a contemporary Pop Surrealist sensibility, drawing from elements of kitsch, consumer aesthetics, and conceptual figuration. Echoes of artists like Yue Minjun and Zhang Xiaogang may be felt in the subtle satire, though Li Ji carves a distinct voice through the absurdist portrayal of animals cast in human narratives. The flat, color-saturated background amplifies the performative nature of the composition, transforming the canvas into a stage on which social commentary is enacted through allegory.

3. Historical Context
Although undated, Pet Series likely emerges from a period in contemporary Chinese art where themes of identity, artificiality, and postmodern critique were thriving—especially in the early 21st century. The early 2000s saw Chinese artists increasingly explore themes of globalization, consumer culture, and societal roles through symbolic figuration. This work contributes to that dialogue by casting domesticated animals in anthropomorphic roles, drawing attention to the commodification of both pets and people in a media-saturated age.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The artwork is reported to be in very good condition. The canvas remains taut and structurally sound, with no observed surface abrasions, paint loss, or discoloration. The pigments are well-preserved and exhibit strong chromatic integrity, particularly in the bold red field.

6. Artistic Significance
Pet Series encapsulates Li Ji’s ability to marry technical finesse with wry sociocultural critique. By anthropomorphizing animals within a deliberately artificial and stylized setting, the artist engages viewers in questions of identity, performativity, and emotional projection. The result is a provocative yet visually engaging work that stands as a notable example of the conceptual whimsy emerging from China’s post-1990s contemporary art scene. Highly collectible, it offers both aesthetic pleasure and intellectual intrigue for discerning collectors of contemporary Asian art.