Artwork Description

Title: Art History of Mr. Xianting Li
Artist: Hua Jiming (华继明)
Date: 2013
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 150 × 200 cm (59.1 × 78.7 in)

1. Artwork Identification
This large-scale oil painting by Hua Jiming, Title:d Art History of Mr. Xianting Li, functions as a vibrant, multifaceted homage to the influential Chinese art critic and curator Li Xianting. Composed of a dense visual collage, the canvas gathers multiple representations of Li across different contexts—public, private, mythologized, and parodied—surrounded by symbolic figures and events that have shaped or been shaped by his presence in contemporary Chinese art.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Hua Jiming’s style is rooted in conceptual collage and performative imagery. Here, he deploys bright, almost pop-art colorations to juxtapose reverence and irony. Portraits, figures, and vignettes are arranged in a visual theatre of memory, drawing comparisons to David Salle or Sigmar Polke, yet grounded in a uniquely Chinese visual grammar. The layering of symbolic imagery, kitsch, realism, and grotesque humor evokes both Socialist Realist propaganda and contemporary kitsch aesthetics, reflecting Hua’s satirical lens.

3. Historical Context
Created in 2013, this work reflects a pivotal moment in the reassessment of Chinese avant-garde history. Li Xianting, often referred to as the “godfather” of contemporary Chinese art, was a champion of experimental and underground art from the 1980s onward. Hua’s painting reads as both tribute and interrogation, exploring the shifting legacy of a central figure through caricature, iconography, and affectionate critique. The piece captures the generational tensions in post-socialist Chinese art between reverence for pioneers and a desire to subvert their mythologies.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The painting is in very good condition. The surface is stable, with vibrant pigment retention and no evidence of paint loss or abrasions. The canvas remains taut and properly stretched, suitable for exhibition without restoration.

6. Artistic Significance
Art History of Mr. Xianting Li is a signature example of Hua Jiming’s hybrid practice, where painting becomes both archive and performance. The work is significant for its bold confrontation with art historical canonization in China, presenting Li Xianting as both subject and myth. For collectors, scholars, or institutions interested in the historiography of Chinese contemporary art, this piece offers not only visual impact but a critical, multifaceted narrative on memory, authorship, and cultural legacy.