Fang Lijun Handan, Hebei Province, China, b. 1963
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Fan Lijun in his studio. Courtesy of the artist -
Fang Lijun’s painting style is characterized by a frank and direct approach, transcending the persistence of realistic techniques employed by artists who preceded him.
Fang Lijun devoted himself to the study of ceramics at Hebei Light Industry College from 1980 to 1984. Later, he pursued printmaking and painting at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, with a particular focus on portraiture.
As a member of the Cynical Realist group, Fang Lijun rose to prominence in the 1990s, a period when Chinese artists gained significant international recognition. His work garnered global attention as he participated in the Venice Biennale in 1993 and 1999, establishing himself as one of the pioneering contemporary Chinese artists.
Fang Lijun’s signature motif features bald-headed figures that serve as peculiar self- portraits and personifications of the artist. These figures carry multiple symbolic meanings and contradictory associations, offering new reflections on contemporary Chinese society in the 1990s.
Another set of important symbols that consistently appear in Fang Lijun’s work are water, sky, and flowers, which also serve as embodiments of human nature. As the artist himself explains, “Water is uncertain, like human feelings. Sometimes it is comforting, sometimes scary. You can’t live without water and need it, but too much water will drown you.”
Fang Lijun’s painting style is characterized by a frank and direct approach, transcending the persistence of realistic techniques employed by artists who preceded him. His style has significantly influenced the development of contemporary avant-garde Chinese art, opening a refreshing new chapter in the realm of Chinese oil painting.
Selected public collections
• The Museum of Modern Art, USA
• Centre de G. Pompidou, France
• The National Gallery of Australia, Australia
• San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, USA
• Ludwig Forum für Internationale Kunst, Germany • CP Foundation, Indonesia
• Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Japan
• Shanghai Art Museum, China
• Guangdong Art Museum, China
• He Xiangning Art Museum, China -
Works
Fang Lijun Handan, Hebei Province, China, b. 1963
2006.1.1., 2006Oil on canvas250 × 360 cmFurther images
“I noticed that while a shaved head is striking on its own, it loses individuality when surrounded by others. This idea fascinated me—the sense of being overlooked and erased in...“I noticed that while a shaved head is striking on its own, it loses individuality when surrounded by others. This idea fascinated me—the sense of being overlooked and erased in society is particularly strong in our culture.” — Fang Lijun
A leading figure of Cynical Realism, Fang Lijun began his Bald Heads series in the late 1980s, using it as a sharp critique of post-Tiananmen Chinese society. His bald-headed figures—caught mid-yawn, smirking, or staring blankly—convey a deep sense of alienation and disillusionment. In contrast to his earlier works, 2006.1.1. replaces stark realism with a dreamlike atmosphere, its figures drifting against cloud-filled, utopian backdrops. This shift moves the series beyond social commentary into existential metaphor, where identity dissolves into a collective void. Through Bald Heads, Fang not only exposes the tension between individuality and conformity but also prompts reflection on personal agency in an increasingly uniform world. His work remains an enduring exploration of human existence, resonating across cultures and generations.
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