Artwork Description

Artist: Li Xiaoqi
Title: Window
Date: 2009
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 140 x 170 cm
Condition: Good
Provenance: Private collection, purchased from Hangzhou
Signature: Signed and dated in the lower right corner

Li Xiaoqi’s Window is a striking exploration of surreal symbolism, drawing viewers into an enigmatic and introspective realm. The composition centers on a starkly framed window, its structure defined by a deep black border and fragmented by intersecting grids. Within its panes, subtle washes of burnt sienna hint at the passage of time, while four distinct images emerge: a curled-up dog, a solitary white feather, a ghostly handprint, and a hauntingly abstract face evoking a skull. These elements weave a dreamlike narrative, blurring the boundary between reality and subconscious expression. With its restrained palette and expressive details, Window invites contemplation, urging us to decipher the elusive symbols that shape the artist’s inner world.

About the Artist
Born in Shandong in 1983, Li Xiaoqi graduated from the Sichuan Academy of Fine Arts in 2005 and currently lives and works in Chongqing. His works often depict ambiguous, ethereal figures, dissolving the boundaries between form and emotion. Dominated by dark, muted tones with occasional bursts of visceral red, his paintings convey a profound sense of solitude and existential reflection. Li’s expressive visual language employs deliberate distortions, dismembered forms, and rhythmic compositions, creating a tension that oscillates between observation and experience. His art transcends mere representation, embodying a deeply personal exploration of human fragility, spirituality, and the passage of time.