Spotlight on contemporary Chinese art - II

With yet another major Chinese art sale at Christie's this week, CNN Asia decided to take a look at the Chinese art bubble and whether it will last or burst. This is how the article reads: “For many, the words “Chinese art” create mixed feelings. Admittedly, contemporary Chinese paintings appear to have rebounded from the economic funk of 2008 and are selling faster and for higher prices than ever.

Beijing-based artist Zeng Fanzhi’s oil-on-canvas diptych 'Mask Series 1996 No. 6' famously set the record for the most expensive contemporary Asian artwork ever sold, fetching US$9.7 million at a Christie’s sale in 2008. Forty-something emerging artist Liu Ye’s lampoonish 'Bright Road' fetched an artist’s record of US$2.5 million at a Sotheby’s sale in April this year.

But any discerning pedestrian strolling around the galleries of Hong Kong’s Central district will notice contemporary Chinese art also appears plagued by sameness - cartoonish figures, brightly painted canvases, and recurring Chinoiserie and communist motifs. Interestingly, the Chinese art scene is also getting increasingly varied and it is only a matter of time before investors acquire a more sophisticated appreciation of art.

Sotheby’s head of Contemporary Asian Art Evelyn Lin names a favorite: Jia Aili, a 31-year-old graduate of the Lu Xun Academy of Fine Art who just staged his first solo exhibition in Europe. “For many young artists of Jia Aili’s generation, cartoony styles are very common, and they’re focused on their daily lives. Jia Aili produces interesting works with a different angle.

His work talks about themes like the environment, and pollution,” says Lin. “Many young artists follow the trends of the market. That’s not healthy. To be honest, I think the cartoon style is everywhere, but their kawaii [cute] style doesn’t really say anything.”

Vinci Chang, Christie’s head of sales of Chinese 20th century art & Asian contemporary art, picked surrealist sculptor Zhan Wang, whose mercurial sculptures are currently exhibited in the US, as the next big thing. Also worthy of mention are auction favorites Zeng Fanzhi and Liu Ye, both distinguished by their caricature
cartoonist styles.