Figures
Lv Jiang
Artwork Details
Artwork Description
Title: Figures
Artist: Lv Jiang
Date: n.d.
Medium: Ink and watercolor on paper
Dimensions: 19.7 x 70.9 in (50 x 180 cm) each (2 pieces)
1. Artwork Identification
This spectacular diptych by Lv Jiang, Title:d Figures, comprises two expansive compositions executed in ink and watercolor on paper. Each panel measures 50 x 180 cm and depicts a sensuous tableau of reclining female figures adorned with tropical parrots, blossoms, and intricate costume details. The vivid color palette, lavish textures, and rhythmic arrangement of forms create a hypnotic atmosphere, drawing the viewer into a luxuriant, almost theatrical world.
2. Artistic Style and Influences
Lv Jiang’s hallmark style—marked by bold color, flowing linework, and exotic symbolism—is on full display in Figures. The composition merges the tradition of Chinese figure painting with Art Nouveau opulence and pop-surrealist flair. The jewel-toned palette and stylized anatomy evoke contemporary Asian visual culture, while the ornamental layering of parrots, flowers, and textiles channels both the narrative intimacy of classical scrolls and the spectacle of modern fantasy illustration.
3. Historical Context
Although undated, Figures reflects Lv Jiang’s mature phase in which he masterfully fuses narrative figuration with decorative excess. Works like this emerged during a broader movement in Chinese contemporary art wherein artists reasserted cultural identity through visually rich, emotionally charged reinterpretations of tradition. The presence of parrots—symbols of beauty, fidelity, and exoticism—paired with reclining feminine forms, positions this work within a lineage of East–West artistic dialogue on femininity, paradise, and storytelling.
4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.
5. Condition and Conservation
Both panels are in very good condition, with no visible creases, discoloration, or surface damage. The pigments are vibrant, and the paper remains structurally sound. Archival framing is recommended to preserve the work’s visual intensity and paper stability.
6. Artistic Significance
Figures represents an ambitious and sensuous contribution to Lv Jiang’s celebrated oeuvre. The piece reflects his continued exploration of gender, narrative, and nature through a lens of fantasy and cultural hybridity. As a professor and leading voice in the Chinese contemporary ink and watercolor scene, Lv Jiang offers here an unforgettable composition that is both deeply rooted in tradition and dynamically forward-looking—making it a compelling acquisition for collectors of figurative and cross-cultural contemporary art.