Artwork Description

Title: Gene Baby
Artist: Chen Feng
Date: 2008
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 70.9 x 39.4 in (180 × 100 cm)

1. Artwork Identification:
This 2008 painting from Chen Feng’s provocative Gene Baby series depicts a stylized, single-eyed female figure with an exaggerated number of breasts and an overtly futuristic presence. Rendered in pastel hues of pink with hyper-defined anatomical features, the figure appears suspended within a surreal industrial setting, blending elements of fashion, machinery, and synthetic biology. Her corseted body and ornamental accessories heighten the tension between eroticism and alienation.

2. Artistic Style and Influences:
Chen Feng’s style merges elements of science fiction, cybernetic fantasy, and lowbrow pop surrealism. Drawing inspiration from anime, body modification, and posthuman theory, the work reflects a visual language akin to Pierre et Gilles or Hajime Sorayama, yet is distinguished by a uniquely Chinese techno-feminine aesthetic. The smooth gradations of oil paint simulate airbrush technique, lending the subject a digitally manipulated illusion.

3. Historical Context:
Created during a time of accelerated global discourse around gender identity, cloning, and biotechnology, Gene Baby critiques evolving conceptions of the body and beauty. In early 21st-century China, where traditional and contemporary values increasingly collided, Chen’s work challenged dominant narratives by introducing synthetic and sexually ambiguous figures into the visual conversation. The setting’s mechanical background alludes to the industrial and digital undercurrents shaping modern life.

4. Provenance:
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation:
The artwork is in very good condition. Paint surface remains pristine with no signs of cracking, discoloration, or warping. The canvas is taut and well-preserved.

6. Artistic Significance:
As part of Chen Feng’s groundbreaking Gene Baby series, this work expands on themes of mutation, eroticism, and technological embodiment. The figure’s exaggerated anatomy and serene expression suggest a being at once vulnerable and powerful—part toy, part cyborg, part idol. A bold statement on identity, objectification, and futurism, the piece holds curatorial relevance within collections focused on contemporary Chinese surrealism and gender in the digital age.