Artwork Description

Title: Revolution of Chinese Culture Part III
Artist: Yang Mian
Date: n.d.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 39.4 x 78.7 in (100 x 200 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
In Revolution of Chinese Culture Part III, Yang Mian presents a commanding, hyper-stylized portrayal of a female figure wrapped in cascading strands of pearls, suspended in a state of ecstasy or liberation against a saturated pink backdrop. Executed in oil on canvas, this large-format composition exemplifies Yang’s meticulous brushwork and atmospheric palette, with subtle transitions between glowing flesh tones and misty pastels.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Yang Mian's practice bridges the visual languages of Pop Art and Chinese contemporary painting, with clear reference to advertising aesthetics and the gloss of consumer culture. Drawing comparisons to artists like Richard Hamilton or Wang Guangyi, Yang manipulates the iconography of idealized beauty to probe deeper questions of identity and cultural construction. This piece is emblematic of his "Chinese Standards" series, where seductive, commercial imagery is blurred and abstracted, dismantling the surface allure to expose ideological undercurrents. His restrained but calculated brushwork evokes both traditional Chinese painterly techniques and contemporary visual media.

3. Historical Context
Created within the socio-economic rise of early 21st-century China, Yang Mian’s work examines how mass media, consumerism, and beauty standards became vehicles for redefining national and personal identity. By 2000, the proliferation of Western-style advertising across Chinese cities redefined gender roles, aesthetic values, and aspirations. Yang’s series intervenes in this narrative, challenging audiences to confront the commodification of beauty and the erosion of authentic cultural heritage. The tension between modernity and tradition is especially palpable in this work, where the visual opulence masks a critique of ideological consumption.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The artwork is in very good condition. The canvas displays stable structure with no evidence of warping, paint loss, or restoration. The pigments retain their original vibrancy and tonal depth. No conservation treatment is currently required.

6. Artistic Significance
Yang Mian stands among the foremost voices of Chinese contemporary art engaging with the visual language of media and identity. His works have been widely exhibited in institutions such as Kunstmuseum Bern and the Montpellier Biennale. Through a seductive yet cerebral visual vocabulary, he confronts the viewer with deeper layers of cultural reflexivity. This painting not only exemplifies his signature style but also contributes to the broader discourse on post-socialist Chinese identity, globalization, and the visual economy of desire.