Artwork Description

Title:Ok! Good!

Artist
Huang Gang (黄钢)

Date
n.d.

Medium:
Painted Resin or Fiberglass Sculpture (Red and White Variants)

Dimensions
H 86.6 in (220 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
Ok! Good! is a monumental pair of sculptures by Chinese contemporary artist Huang Gang, featuring a stylized, larger-than-life figure in uniform, rendered in high-gloss red and white finishes. With a raised hand in a gesture of salute or greeting, the figure presents a smiling, almost caricatured face reminiscent of Maoist imagery. Standing at an imposing 220 cm, each sculpture commands attention through both its scale and symbolic resonance. Executed in resin or fiberglass, the polished surfaces and minimal detailing emphasize form over realism, drawing focus to the iconographic nature of the work.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
These works exemplify Huang Gang’s distinct approach to political symbolism and cultural semiotics, where historical figures are reinterpreted through a postmodern lens. Influenced by Pop Art, Conceptualism, and Chinese Socialist Realism, the sculptures blur the lines between reverence, satire, and social critique. The bold monochrome colors — one in pristine white, the other in vivid red — amplify the contrast between purity and ideology, while the exaggerated expressions evoke both nostalgia and irony. The repeated motif of the authoritative gesture calls attention to the performative power embedded in political imagery.

3. Historical Context
Huang Gang’s upbringing during the Cultural Revolution profoundly shaped his artistic outlook. Born in 1961 and immersed in the ideological fervor of Maoist China, he later witnessed the country’s rapid transformation into a globalized, commercial society. Ok! Good! reflects this dichotomy — simultaneously a monument to a bygone political era and a commentary on its commodification in contemporary culture. The sculptures speak to the complex layering of history and memory in post-revolutionary China, where familiar symbols are reinterpreted in a market-driven art context.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
Both sculptures are in very good condition, with clean, intact surfaces and no visible structural damage. The paintwork and finish are consistent across both variants, with no noted chips, abrasions, or discoloration. The sculptures have been well-maintained and are suitable for indoor or curated public display.

6. Artistic Significance
Huang Gang is celebrated for his ability to harness iconic cultural forms and imbue them with layered socio-political meaning. Ok! Good! stands as a compelling example of his signature visual lexicon — playful, ironic, and historically resonant. These sculptures encapsulate the shifting identity of China’s recent past, offering collectors a powerful and thought-provoking addition to any contemporary art collection. Their scale and bold formal clarity make them especially suited for institutional or large-scale curated environments.