Xiao Xu (b. 1984) Auspicious Beast and Net VII ink and colour on silk executed in 2010 69 x 125 cm (27 1/4 x 49 1/4 in) signed Xiao Xu
EXHIBITION My Humble House 2010 - Exhibition of A New Generation, My Humble House Art Gallery, Taipei, 10 Sept - 17 Oct 2010
LITERATURE Illustrated in My Humble House 2010 - Exhibition of A New Generation, My Humble House Art Gallery, Taipei, 2010
Executed with techniques of traditional Chinese paintings, Xiao's works explores a modern subject of a caged animal. The wire net in the painting creates distance between the viewer and the work while the deep hue of the canvas creates a mysterious atmosphere. It implies the suppression of a cornered beast, alluding to the imprisonment of people's mind in modern society. Being one of the leading Chinese fine brush painters, Li subtly reveals his utopia through his works. The piece , executed on a metre - long silk with layers and layers of dying, has exceptionally fine drawing techniques. It is a rare example with comparable fine quality of classical paintings.