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Lot Essay
“To me, the process of painting is more like that of invention. It may sound funny, but I believe they share some common characteristics. A painting is like the sketch for a building. It carries many ideas and intentions of the artist. I think it's a revolution in the simplest and most direct sense.” – Xie Nanxing
Untitled No. 9 (Lot 413) was painted in the same year as Untitled No. 5 (Lot 47) offered in the Evening sale of this auction. They both belong to the same series. It immediately drew international attention when this series was shown in the 48th Venice Biennale and catapulted young artist Xie Nanxing from obscurity to stardom. Subsequently, he was invited to participate in numerous exhibitions around the world. This series, including the work Untitled No. 9 offered here, speaks to the body and trauma of youth. Even though it looks like it is based on a photograph, the content of the work has a sense of drama that conveys psychological oppression. In that regard, it is more akin to a clip from a movie showing a part of a twisted story. Xie Nanxing successfully captures the sense of urgency when one is under tremendous pressure to obtain a certain footage in film. The way in which he achieved this effect with the painting medium heightens the sense of drama in the image. The blurry treatment on the entire paintings gives viewer a sense of eerieness. When viewed up close, the work is actually meticulously painted with great details, and the tension of the painting can only be released when it is viewed at the right distance. Through the re-interpretation of images, Xie Nanxing endeavours to express a sense of uncertainty that is fleeting. He paints a surrealistic space that provokes the viewer to contemplate and question its very nature.
Untitled No. 9 (Lot 413) was painted in the same year as Untitled No. 5 (Lot 47) offered in the Evening sale of this auction. They both belong to the same series. It immediately drew international attention when this series was shown in the 48th Venice Biennale and catapulted young artist Xie Nanxing from obscurity to stardom. Subsequently, he was invited to participate in numerous exhibitions around the world. This series, including the work Untitled No. 9 offered here, speaks to the body and trauma of youth. Even though it looks like it is based on a photograph, the content of the work has a sense of drama that conveys psychological oppression. In that regard, it is more akin to a clip from a movie showing a part of a twisted story. Xie Nanxing successfully captures the sense of urgency when one is under tremendous pressure to obtain a certain footage in film. The way in which he achieved this effect with the painting medium heightens the sense of drama in the image. The blurry treatment on the entire paintings gives viewer a sense of eerieness. When viewed up close, the work is actually meticulously painted with great details, and the tension of the painting can only be released when it is viewed at the right distance. Through the re-interpretation of images, Xie Nanxing endeavours to express a sense of uncertainty that is fleeting. He paints a surrealistic space that provokes the viewer to contemplate and question its very nature.