Wang Guangle

signed in Chinese and dated 2012 on the reverse

Beijing Commune, Beijing
Acquired by the present owner from the above

Netherlands, Rotterdam, Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Dai Hanzhi: 5000 Artists, 2014

This work is in good condition with very minor craquelures to the extreme edges due to stretching. There are minor vertical drying cracks throughout which are only visible upon close inspection and pinpoint protrusions of impasto which are inherent to the artist's working method. When examined under ultraviolet light, there appears to be no evidence of restoration.
"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."

Wang Guangle is one of the most visible and promising contemporary Chinese artists born in the 1970s era. 120605 hails from his most recent series of highly conceptual and aesthetically distinctive works, which extends from his acclaimed Coffin Paint series (began in 2004). These new paintings are created by applying layer upon layer of acrylic paint in a precise and pre-determined order, resulting in minimal compositions with mesmerizing, illusionistic depth. Wang adds paint to his canvas twice daily in a ritualistic manner, with each rectangular layer slightly smaller in size and farther removed from the painting’s edge. As a result, the center of the canvas thickens and approaches a distinctly sculptural dimension. The concept transforms the slow and steady passage of time into a purely formal pictorial language, and is further inspired by the Fujian tradition of elders preparing their coffins with a coat of lacquer for each year until their impending death. A fast-rising star in the contemporary scene today, Wang graduated from the Oil Painting Department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts in 2000 and is an important member of N12, a collective of young artists at the Academy who began staging exhibitions together in 2003. Compared to other artists born in the 1970s, Wang chose the idiosyncratic path of returning art to pure graphic aestheticism, in so doing opening up a new generation of painting concepts.