"Private Space No. 29", (2011) is one of the largest and also one of the most undeniably erotic and accomplished photorealist oil paintings by rising star, Contemporary Chinese artist Su Zihan. Su's incredible skill as a painter and his sophisticated use of light and shadows further heighten the intensity of this portrait of a young Chinese woman who sits with legs crossed. She smokes a cigarette and holds her small dog to her side, while gazing seductively outwards through the shadows, her beautiful facial features slowly come into focus. This intentional reveal/conceal nature of this painting, hiding parts of her body while openly offering up other parts of her body for view, is a major feature of Su's portraits. Painted in a photorealist manner and with a palette based on photo-scale tones of greys, the reference to photography here is intentional.

This major, large-scale painting belongs to Su Zihan's famed "Private Space" Series of realist oil painting that tend to focus on figural and close-up facial portraits of the stunning young Chinese women of his 70's and 80's generations. His paintings all speak to the more accepting attitude in modern-day China of breaking cultural taboos and explore the increasingly acceptable practice of pursuing physical and mental desires, namely sexual pleasure, intoxication and smoking. As seen here, the artist often focuses on facial features to intensify the conveyance of longing and desire. There is often an underlying tone of intrigue and secrecy, as seen here, adding a further dimensionality to his work.

Su Zihan (Chinese, B. 1978) was formally trained at with numerous exhibitions at museums and galleries internationally. The most recent Museum and Gallery exhibition venues for the artist include the Shangshang Art Museum (Beijing, China), the Royal Castle Museum (Tours, France), and VIP’s International Gallery. The artist lives and works in China. The artist lives and works in Beijing, China.