Sheng Qi (Chinese b. 1965). "Parade No. 9". 2005
Color C-print. Unique Edition 1/1
Dimensions: 71 inches x 47.25 inches (180 x 120 cm). Signed.

This is one of the most important color photographs by famous multi-media Chinese Contemporary artist Sheng Qi and is a unique edition. "Parade 9" belongs to Sheng's larger "My Left Hand" Series that includes both color photographs and oil paintings all of a close-up images of the artist's left hand, pinky missing. His has is placed palm open in front of a flat, bright red background (the color of China, the color of blood), holding a small black and white vintage photograph of a specific event or individual related in some manner, literally or metaphorically, to the artist and his childhood. This photograph "Parade 9" depicts a military parade marching past Tian'anmen Square, most probably an event Sheng attended himself as a child. This image is of particular power due to the theme and universal context of what we are viewing. The introspection and unique manner of re8creating a memory and past moment in time here is incredibly moving, poignant and powerful.

Sheng Qi, born in 1965, is a Chinese contemporary performance artist. He is best known for social-political prevalent themed paintings and photographs, in particular his use of the human body as a field of protest. He led one of Chinese contemporary art's earliest performance art groups, Concept 21, and was a key member of China’s New Art Movement in 1985. After the Tian'anmen Square uprising Sheng fled to Europe where he lived until 1998, but before leaving he cut off his left pinkie finger, which he buried in a flowerpot—so that he might leave part of himself behind in China.

Sheng earned a Master's Degree from London's prestigious St. Martin's Academy of Art and Design, U.K. His work, including this photograph, have been included in major Museum and Gallery exhibitions in Europe, Asia and the United States, including the much-hyped Museum show "The Inside Out: New Chinese Art "(1998) that included more then 80 works by 58 artists from China’s mainland, Taiwan, and overseas. The show was curated by Gao Minglu and organized by the Asia Society, in cooperation with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Sheng is represented by Wiegersma Fine Art, Brussels, Belgium; F2 Gallery, Beijing, China; Galerie Loft in Paris, LA Contemporary in LA; and ChinaSquare in New York. Sheng currently lives and works in Beijing.