Artwork Description

Title: Unknown Girl
Artist: Xie Yongsheng
Date: 2018
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 23.6 x 19.7 in (60 x 50 cm)

1. Artwork Identification:
This charming oil painting Title:d Unknown Girl by Xie Yongsheng portrays a stylized female figure with exaggerated facial features and a puckered expression, set against a gradient background of mint and teal hues. Rendered with a velvety surface and delicate detail, the subject is dressed in a dark velvet cheongsam and accented with pink blush, vibrant eyeshadow, and a whimsical feathered fascinator, exuding both elegance and playfulness.

2. Artistic Style and Influences:
Xie Yongsheng's art blends humor, tradition, and philosophical serenity. Drawing from his Tai Chi practice, his figures often embody a sense of balance, calm, and controlled gesture. This piece channels a Pop Surrealist aesthetic, with influences from both contemporary cartoon portraiture and traditional Chinese figure painting. The deliberate distortion of proportions and subtle emotional charge infuse the work with both innocence and satire.

3. Historical Context:
Emerging from a unique intersection of martial arts and fine art, Xie Yongsheng's career reflects an evolution from kinetic observation to psychological insight. Unlike many of his contemporaries who engage in socio-political critique, Xie instead embraces whimsy and harmony. Unknown Girl reflects the shift in 21st-century Chinese contemporary art toward individual narrative and expressive character studies.

4. Provenance:
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation:
The painting is in very good condition, with vibrant pigments, a clean surface, and no noted issues related to structural integrity or conservation. The canvas is professionally mounted and ready for display.

6. Artistic Significance:
Unknown Girl exemplifies Xie Yongsheng’s subtle mastery of character and form, presenting a figure that is both enigmatic and immediately endearing. His integration of Tai Chi philosophy into visual art grants his work a unique calm and rhythm. This painting stands as a testament to his singular voice within Chinese contemporary art—a voice that favors wit, clarity, and elegance over confrontation.