• Untitled (Smile-ism No. 8), 2006 by Yue Minjun
  • Untitled (Smile-ism No. 8), 2006 by Yue Minjun
  • Untitled (Smile-ism No. 8), 2006 by Yue Minjun
  • Untitled (Smile-ism No. 8), 2006 by Yue Minjun

    Untitled (Smile-ism No. 8), 2006

    Yue Minjun

    Regular price $6,500
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    Lithograph in colors on wove paper

    35 x 43 inches (78.7 x 114.3 cm) (sheet)

    Ed. XX/45

    Signed and editioned in pencil along lower edge

    Yue Minjun's Untitled (Smile-ism No. 7), 2006

    Untitled (Smile-ism No. 8)" (2006) is a significant lithograph by Chinese contemporary artist Yue Minjun, representing a pivotal moment in post-1989 Chinese art. The print showcases Yue's iconic self-referential figure with its exaggerated grin, executed in his characteristic bright pink flesh tones against a stark background.

    The lithograph embodies the core principles of Cynical Realism, an influential art movement that emerged in early 1990s Beijing. Yue's laughing figure serves as a complex cultural symbol, simultaneously expressing and masking the psychological tensions of rapid societal transformation in contemporary China. 

    Through meticulous lithographic technique, the artist captures the paradoxical nature of forced happiness and social conformity. As part of the "Smile-ism" series, this work demonstrates Yue's masterful adaptation of his painted vocabulary into print media. The precision of the lithographic process enhances the uncanny quality of his signature style, which has profoundly influenced the development of contemporary Chinese printmaking and visual culture.

    Yue Minjun emerged alongside fellow artists like Fang Lijun and Liu Wei during a transformative period in Chinese art history. His works appear in prestigious collections including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Fondation Cartier in Paris, establishing him as a crucial figure in the global contemporary art dialogue.

    Never framed, very good condition. Some minor handling marks mostly visible in ranking light. 

    Yue Minjun

    Yue Minjun (born 1962, Heilongjiang Province) is one of China's most celebrated contemporary artists, renowned for his iconic "laughing man" motif. A key figure in the Cynical Realism movement of the 1990s, Yue transforms his own image into bold commentary on modern Chinese society. His distinctive works, featuring pink-fleshed figures frozen in enigmatic grins, appear in major collections including MoMA, Tate Modern, and M+ Hong Kong.

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