Artwork Description

Title:Part Two

Artist Oil on canvas

Dimensions
63 x 47.2 in (160 x 120 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
In Part Two (2016), Zhan Yang presents a theatrical and satirical vision of femininity and spectacle. A woman in a leopard-print bodysuit kneels atop a shimmering reflective surface, her figure hyper-realistically rendered. Behind her, multicolored beams shoot from a stylized cloudlike form resembling a divine mouthpiece, cutting diagonally across a minimalist gray background. The woman's cat ears, bracelet, and assertive pose combine to parody themes of fantasy, performance, and sexualized identity.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
The painting masterfully blends hyperrealism with pop surrealism and visual iconography reminiscent of fashion photography. Zhan Yang fuses Western glamour with Eastern theatricality, using rainbow color rays and detailed brushwork to evoke the work of David LaChapelle and Pierre et Gilles, while retaining the critical edge found in Chinese Cynical Realism. The polished surface and bold palette underscore the tension between sincerity and spectacle, kitsch and critique.

3. Historical Context
Painted in 2016, Part Two continues Yang’s critical engagement with gender performance, cultural identity, and aesthetic excess. Emerging from the post-2000 Chinese contemporary art scene—and filtered through his expatriate experience in Germany—Yang’s work resonates with global discourses around the commodification of beauty, mediated femininity, and the theatrical construction of modern identity.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The artwork is in very good condition. Surface appears stable with no visible losses, cracking, or discoloration. Paint texture and color vibrancy remain intact and strong.

6. Artistic Significance
Part Two is a vivid and provocative example of Zhan Yang’s exploration of contemporary culture through layered satire and immaculate technique. As part of a body of work that fuses East-West aesthetics with symbolic excess, this painting challenges viewers to interrogate desire, identity, and the role of the female form in visual culture. A standout within Yang’s figural oeuvre, the work exemplifies his commitment to both technical excellence and conceptual depth.