LI JIN
b. 1958, ChinaLi Jin (b.1958) is one of China’s most interesting and unorthodox Chinese ink painters; a member of the so-called New Literati group, the artist draws from and subverts the tradition of Chinese literati painting to create thoroughly contemporary works dealing with the banality of everyday life. Using his lively and colourful palette, Li transforms the chores of everyday life into fragmented illusions of a fantastical world. Using humour and play, Li prods the viewer to engage with his paintings while challenging them to reconsider their preconceived notions of the quotidian. Though his subject matter appears simple, his approach to art-making is radical and aggressive.
Gestural and flamboyant, Li’s expressive paintings are rooted firmly in his attention to detail, colour, and pattern. It is his painterly attitude and dedication to craftsmanship that have allowed Li to remain one of the most compelling Chinese artists in modernity.
Courtesy Gajah Gallery
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