Artwork Description

DING SHAO GUANG

Figure, 2011
work on paper
68 × 67 cm (26.8 × 26.4 in)

This richly coloured composition presents a stylised female figure in a moment of ecstatic communion with a phoenix-like bird. The kneeling figure is rendered in sinuous, elongated form, enveloped in intricate ornamental patterning and set against a saturated red ground animated by floating cloud forms and gold accents. The overall effect is one of ceremonial intensity, in which figure and surrounding space are fused into a continuous decorative field.

Ding Shaoguang’s pictorial language is defined by a synthesis of Chinese narrative traditions and Western Art Nouveau inflections. The curvilinear structure, flattened spatial organisation, and densely patterned surfaces recall mural painting and ancient scroll aesthetics, while the heightened chromatic palette and decorative linearity reinforce its modern ornamental character.

Within the context of the artist’s mature practice, this work reflects a sustained engagement with themes of myth, femininity, and transcendence. Created during a period of international recognition, Ding’s imagery increasingly emphasised symbolic transformation and spiritualised femininity, often expressed through allegorical pairings of human and animal forms.

Figure is representative of Ding Shaoguang’s late-period synthesis of decorative virtuosity and symbolic narrative. Its polished surface and mythological overtones position it as a compelling example of his distinctive contribution to contemporary Chinese pictorial art.