Artwork Description

Title: Lulu's Birthday Party
Artist: Jiangtao Wu
Date: inscription illegible in photo
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 31.89 × 20.87 in (81 × 53 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
Lulu's Birthday Party by Jiangtao Wu presents a captivating and enigmatic composition. The painting portrays a young girl with black hair adorned with striking red, horn-like adornments, dressed in a patterned garment. Behind her looms a large blue shadow resembling a horned figure with floral motifs, introducing an element of surreal ambiguity and psychological tension.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
The work exhibits a contemporary figurative style enriched with surrealist undertones. The dual imagery suggests an interplay between innocence and latent identity, reminiscent of the symbolic explorations seen in modern psychological portraiture and influenced by East Asian contemporary narrative art.

3. Historical Context
Within the broader context of 21st-century Chinese art, the painting resonates with themes of individuality, cultural symbolism, and internal duality. Emerging during a period where many artists probe personal mythologies and hybrid identities, Wu’s visual language reflects a nuanced negotiation between tradition, modernity, and psychological depth.

4. Provenance and Authenticity
Please contact the gallery directly for provenance information and authentication certificates.

5. Condition and Conservation
The painting is in excellent condition with vivid colors and stable paint layers. The canvas is firm on its stretcher, and no evidence of restoration or damage is present.

6. Artistic Significance
Lulu's Birthday Party occupies a distinct position within Jiangtao Wu’s oeuvre for its fusion of figuration and symbolism. The painting invites profound interpretations, positioning it as a compelling acquisition for collectors seeking works that challenge and intrigue, offering layers of narrative complexity and emotional resonance.