signed in Chinese and Pinyin and dated 1993

Private Collection (acquired directly from the artist)
Sotheby's, New York, 17 March 2008, lot 34
Acquired by the present owner from the above sale

This work is in good condition overall. There is minor surface accretion as well as minor splits and craquelures inherent to the medium of the work.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

One of the most pivotal contemporary artists from Shanghai, Li Shan combined elements of Primitivism and Abstraction in the 1980s to forge the earliest abstract paintings in China. After the "China/Avant-Garde" exhibition in 1989, Li Shan was amongst the first group of Chinese artists to participate in international exhibitions around the world. Li Shan quickly gained critical acclaim for his Rouge Series that featured androgenized political figures; with this series, Li Shan became one of the central figures of the 1990s Political Pop movement alongside Yu Youhan and Wang Guangyi. Untitled (Lot 658), created in collaboration with Xu Longsen and Zhu Xinjian in Shanghai, is one of only two collaborative projects ever created by the three artists. The work features an antique cabinet that belonged to Xu Longsen that is illustrated by each artist: the doors by Li Shan, the exterior sides by Xu Longsen and the interior by Zhu Xinjian. Li Shan's motif is US President Bill Clinton, who is androgenized and rendered in the artist's iconic Rouge Series style. Xu Longsen's two illustrations on the side feature a terracotta warrior holding the Chinese flag and President Lincoln holding the US flag respectively, while the cabinet interior displays Zhu Xinjian's renowned erotic palace paintings. With the exterior of the cabinet embodying the clash of East and West, and its interior illustrations symbolizing the Chinese tradition of palace paintings, Untitled is a thoughtful and exquisitely executed collaboration that encapsulates cultural dialogue between China and the West in the 1990s.