Body No. 4 - - Liu Xiaofeng, 2006

Liu Xiaofeng

Photorealistic paintings

Liu Xiaofeng chooses subjects for her paintings that evoke luxury and erotic. Her staged still lives of the series Body show female beauty and allurement. Liu Xiaofeng chooses not to include the faces of her characters and allows the view to fill in the missing parts. The images of female bodies are painted in an enlarged scale. In this way there remains a distance between the painted world and the world of the viewer. By using a color palette that only includes white, grey and black and she strikes the stylistic character of her work. The big tone contrasts evoke the idea as if spotlights are turned on the painted ladies. Liu Xiaofeng’s photorealistic technique is outstanding.

Her oeuvre represents a self confident young Chinese generation. Liu Xiaofeng makes a link to the Chinese erotic paintings of the 18th century but translates them into a contemporary way.

Body No. 4

A lady is wearing a white, plain brassiere. She is facing the viewer who is looking at her with the point of view on belly bottom height. The artist chose for a detail including her breast, stomach, left upper arm and a black strand of hair. A strong light shines on the lady and emphasizes her surrealistic smooth and plain skin.