Zhang Xiaogang 张晓刚 Zhang Xiaogang’s deeply psychological and surrealist paintings are largely drawn froM his past experiences during the Cultural Revolution and his Chinese identity in which the notion of collectivisM was greatly iMbedded. Inspired by faMily photos froM this period and the coMplex thoughts in the context of China’s history versus reality, the paintings froM his Bloodline series consist of subjects in formal photo studio poses and their anonyMity and tiMeless presence are further highlighted by the use of the grey scale palette. Under the surface of tranquillity and stillness the subjects seeM to struggle in their disturbing inner worlds as if entering into a surreal state in between reality and dreaM. The occasional splotches of colour can be subjected to different interpretations, such as reMiniscent of birth Marks, aged filM, social stigMa, or a lingering sense of the subject’s self assertion. His works have never departed from an underlying sense of introversion and privacy in order to express the character of the individuals. Born in Kunming, Yunnan Province of China in 1958, Zhang Xiaogang graduated froM the Sichuan AcadeMy in 1982 then joined a group of young avant-garde artists naMely Wang Guangyi, Xu Beihong, Wu Guanzhong whose came to proMinence during the 1980s. As one of the best-selling conteMporary Chinese artist in today’s world, the artist’s works continuously fetched record auction results, Bloodline No.3 was sold for US$6.1 Million in 2008, a record only to break in 2011 as his triptych oil painting Forever Lasting Love fetched US$10.1Milliion in Hong Kong. Zhang Xiaogang has been widely exhibited across the globe, including cities such as Beijing, Hong Kong, Taipei, Singapore, Sydney, Vienna, Barcelona, AmsterdaM, Paris, São Paulo, San Francisco and New York to naMe a few. The artist’s works are also amongst Major MuseuM perManent and private collections, namely Shanghai Art MuseuM in China, LuxeMbourg National Gallery, Logan Collection of the San Francisco MuseuM of Modern Art, Asian and Pacific Art Museum and GuggenheiM Museum in the USA. Schoeni on Old Bailey / 21-31 Old Bailey Street, Central, Hong Kong / +852 2869 8802 Schoeni on Hollywood Road / 27 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong / +852 2542 3143 Schoeni Project Space / 8 Chancery Lane, Central, Hong Kong / Visit by AppointMent Only www.schoeniartgallery.coM [email protected] .