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Lot Essay
Li Shan is widely known for his individualistic style and fresh take on a variety on themes, injecting a level of cultural and societal reflection into familiar political figures or symbols. In the Autumn of 1989, the famous Rouge Series was born, as he used vibrant colours and delicate brushstrokes to depict the red star that adorns Mao Zedong's People's Liberation Army cap. The artist used a sky-blue background to accentuate the centred pink star; this fresh and highcontrast style shakes viewers from traditional representation, while using a satirical tone to explore emancipation from the usual solemnity of the art world.
This work is the collection of Francesca Dal Lago, a scholar specialising in Chinese modern and contemporary art. In 1989, she moved to Beijing and worked at the Italian embassy. While also having an active participation in the Chinese contemporary art world, she has built a friendship with various artists and occasionally organising exhibitions. In 1993, she organised the first significant participation of Chinese artists at the Venice Biennale. That same year, she enrolled in a PhD program in Art History at New York University, focusing on the history of Chinese art, where she continued to publish on different aspects of contemporary art. Since 2011, she has been an Associate Researcher at Centre de Recherche sur les Civilisations de l'Asie Orientale, Paris.
This work is the collection of Francesca Dal Lago, a scholar specialising in Chinese modern and contemporary art. In 1989, she moved to Beijing and worked at the Italian embassy. While also having an active participation in the Chinese contemporary art world, she has built a friendship with various artists and occasionally organising exhibitions. In 1993, she organised the first significant participation of Chinese artists at the Venice Biennale. That same year, she enrolled in a PhD program in Art History at New York University, focusing on the history of Chinese art, where she continued to publish on different aspects of contemporary art. Since 2011, she has been an Associate Researcher at Centre de Recherche sur les Civilisations de l'Asie Orientale, Paris.