Zhang Xiangming, Beijing Girl No. 7, 2014

Zhang Xiangming, Beijing Girl No. 7, 2014
Lithograph
84 x 100 cm (visible), 98 x 115 x 5 cm (framed)
Condition: Very good, slight scuffs on surface of acrylic, slight foxing on the frame’s backboard
Edition of 99
Certificate of Authenticity available

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When I bought my first home in 2012 as a fresh graduate, I was thrilled to have a place of my own and started to inculcate an interest in interior design. I have always wanted to explore a mix of chinoiserie and contemporary Chinese art – so, when I saw this piece of lithograph at the Affordable Art Fair Singapore 2014, I was immediately drawn to Zhang’s “Beijing Girl” series. I thought the artist depicted the spirit of modern, young girl well – soulful, gentle yet independent – just like me! I bought this piece without a second thought. It remained the central piece of my first home for a decade. Alas, it was time for me to move to my second abode – and its interior theme of black-and-white colonialism meant I have to bid this good friend a farewell and best wishes in bringing joy to her next owner.

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Zhang Xiangming (Chinese, b. 1975) graduated from the Shandong Normal University art department in 2003. He furthered his art education in the Oil Creation Studio of China Art Research Institute, Beijing, China and graduated in 2007. His works have been exhibited internationally.

Influenced by photography and realism, Zhang’s early work pursued lifelike depictions, while his later pieces became more abstract and spiritual. He focuses on the subtle nuances of skin, movement, and gaze, creating portraits that go beyond representation to explore presence, emotion, and time.

His Beijing Girl series captures the restless spirit of young women in contemporary urban China. Combining realistic technique with striking detail, Zhang portrays subjects who appear both calm and rebellious, their beauty layered with a quiet sense of melancholy. These figures reflect broader social shifts. He uses the female form to explore themes of spiritual indifference, identity, and changing ideals within modern China and beyond. Through their style and presence, his works draw connections between historical moments and today’s global culture, offering a subtle commentary on nationalism, aesthetics, and the evolving human condition.

(Photographed in March 2025)