Artwork Description

Li Xiaoqi's artwork, titled 'The King and His Promise,' offers viewers a captivating journey into the realm of the unexpected. The composition is an intricate tapestry of enigmatic elements, including objects, fragments of humanity, and surreal combinations, all seemingly governed by a dream-like logic. The painting's entirety exudes an inner coherence that eludes full comprehension from an outside perspective, casting its symbolism into a realm of mysterious wonder.

The dominant chromatic palette of the piece consists primarily of burnt sienna and white, with a solitary accent of red positioned near the center of the composition. This red accent serves as a focal point within the enigmatic tableau. The painting's primary compositional line takes the form of a descending diagonal, originating from the upper right corner and extending towards the lower left, guiding the viewer's gaze through its intricate narrative.

Details:
Artist: Li Xiaoqi
Title: 'The King and His Promise'
Date: 2007
Medium: Oil painting on canvas
Dimensions: 160 x 130 cm
Condition Report: Overall good condition
Signature and Date: Located on the center-left

About the artist:
Li Xiaoqi, born in Shandong in June 1983, is a renowned artist who graduated from the Sichuan Academy of Fine Arts in 2005. He currently resides and works in Chongqing. Li Xiaoqi's artistic style is characterized by the portrayal of characters with vague, indeterminate features, creating an otherworldly dreamlike quality in his works.

In Li Xiaoqi's art, a compelling and evocative language prevails, primarily employing black and gray-brown tones, with sporadic bursts of vivid, blood-like red. This restricted color palette serves to imbue his paintings with a unique aura, simultaneously avoiding an excessively gloomy or melancholic atmosphere. Instead, it infuses a sense of religious and spiritual power that transcends the human condition, often juxtaposed with themes of solitude and mortality.

Li Xiaoqi's artistic approach is marked by innovative techniques, including unconventional shapes, deliberate dissections, and repeated distortions that generate a dynamic and frenetic rhythm within his compositions. His distinctive style revolves around exploring and shaping the essence of his subjects.