Artwork Description

Title:Figure

Artist
Ding Shaoguang (丁绍光)

Date
2011

Medium:
Work on paper

Dimensions
26.8 × 26.4 in (68 × 67 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
This 2011 composition by Ding Shaoguang—Title:dFigure—is a radiant work on paper featuring a female figure enraptured in spiritual communion with a fantastical phoenix-like bird. The figure, stylized and sinuous, is adorned in textured patterns and bold colors, kneeling amid abstracted plumes and swirling motifs. With a red ground of floating cloud forms and organic gold embellishments, the piece echoes mythological symbolism and ceremonial reverence.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Ding Shaoguang’s work stands at the confluence of multiple aesthetic traditions. Drawing from the visual richness of Chinese folklore, Buddhist murals, and the Yunnan School’s experimental tendencies, his imagery often invokes sacred femininity, cosmic harmony, and transcendental symbolism. In Figure, the composition’s ornamental curvilinear lines, decorative detailing, and fusion of figurative and abstract elements align closely with Art Nouveau, while the flattened perspective and iconographic forms are reminiscent of ancient Chinese scrolls and mural painting.

3. Historical Context
This piece was created during a later phase in Ding’s career, after he had firmly established himself internationally. The 2010s marked a reflective and celebratory period for the artist, where themes of rebirth, spirituality, and symbolic femininity became even more pronounced. Figure exemplifies this evolution—demonstrating his continued commitment to narrative expression through rich visual metaphor and his refinement of serigraph-like techniques.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The artwork is preserved in very good condition. The pigments remain vivid, the surface stable, and no signs of foxing, tears, or discoloration are present. Suitable for framing and long-term conservation.

6. Artistic Significance
Ding Shaoguang remains a vital figure in the global dialogue between Eastern traditional art and modern Western expression. His works are housed in both private and institutional collections and are recognized for their technical sophistication and lyrical beauty. Figure serves as a captivating example of Ding’s late-period mastery, blending mysticism, allegory, and stylistic grandeur into a timeless visual statement.