Liu Sheng's Harvesting Sugarcane in Mud (2023) and Wang Gongyi's Leaves of Grass #19 (2024) are included in Asia Art Archive's annual fundraiser.
The auction offers a selection of over fifty works generously donated by artists and prominent galleries and is accepting bids until 1 November 2024.
Asia Art Archive (AAA) is a leading resource for those interested in the recent art histories of Asia— with a growing collection of material for research and education freely available from our on-site library and website. As a non-profit, proceeds from our fundraiser make up a large portion of our operating budget. Your contribution will support the development of resources on the history of contemporary art in Asia, and ensure AAA’s materials and programmes remain free to all.
Harvesting Sugarcane in Mud
2023
Oil on canvas
49.5 × 70.5 cm
Three female figures trudge through a muddy sugarcane field, their backs hunched and heads bowed under the weight of farm work. Part of the artist’s Returning to Sweet Potato Farming project, this work pays tribute to the undervalued yet essential labour of rural Chinese women, who are expected to not only perform domestic duties but also work long hours in the field. Unlike the detailed male figures in Liu Sheng’s other works, these women are faceless, reflecting their marginalised status in society.
Leaves of Grass #19
2024
Mineral pigment and pastel on silk
68 × 78 cm
Referencing Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass, this work belongs to a series of abstract drawings that reflect Wang Gongyi’s profound appreciation of the natural world. Depicting the wild blades of grass that the artist encounters on her daily riverside walks, the work features sweeping brushstrokes that capture Wang’s nuanced observations and flowing subconscious thoughts. Reflective of Wang’s signature style, the piece blends together the visual languages of Chinese ink paintings and abstract art with Buddhist principles of simplicity and depth.
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