Artist: Xiang Shuai
Title: Rose or Ice Cream
Date: 2018
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 40 x 30 cm
Condition Report: In good condition
Signature: Signed in the lower right corner

A striking and thought-provoking portrait, Rose or Ice Cream features a figure with a surreal, dreamlike quality. The subject’s face, painted in warm hues of red and orange, contrasts with the cool blue background, while a vibrant red form—suggestive of a melting ice cream or a blooming rose—obscures the lower half of the face. This ambiguity, paired with soft yet expressive brushwork, invites multiple interpretations, evoking themes of identity, transformation, and perception.

About the Artist:
Xiang Shuai (b. 1992, Wanzhou, Chongqing) is a professional Chinese artist based in Beijing. He studied at the Sichuan Academy of Fine Arts in 2010 and further developed his practice in Marburg, Germany, in 2013. Since settling in Songzhuang in 2014, he has gained recognition for his contemporary metaphysical works, which explore surreal and introspective themes.

His work has been featured in prominent exhibitions, including:

China Metaphysical Contemporary Art Association First Season Exhibition, Beijing Shangshang International Art Museum (2016)
Green Bamboo Painting Materials Cup National Works Exhibition, China International Exhibition Center / Green Bamboo Museum (2016)
3rd Asian Young Artists Nomination Exhibition, Beijing Today Art Museum (2016)
Salute – Youth Exhibition of Young Artists, Beijing Shangshang International Art Museum (2014)