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Zhang Dali (Chinese, b.1963)
LOT ID: 74197
AK-47 (G.10), 2008

Acrylic, on vinyl canvas
70.8 х 59.05 in. cm.
Signed, in Pinyin and English, dated "2008.1", and titled "AK-47 (G.10)" on back of canvas.
Lot description
"AK-47 (G.10)" (2008) is one of the largest and most dynamic paintings by famous Chinese Contemporary artists Zhang Dali from his critically acclaimed 'AK-47' series of acrylic on vinyl paintings that are titled after the artist's self-given street name. This painting depicts a cropped, close-up realist portrait of a smiling Chinese youth, who gazes optimistically outwards with gleaming eyes and a strong smile, unaware of his poor, migrant status or his displacement in the world. Zhang Dali deconstructs the portrait by painting a grid-like series of horizontal rows of text that repeat "AK-47" across the entire canvas, eradicating the complete portrait of the boy. When viewed from a distance the 1-inch high "tags" disappear and the portrait appears in full. When viewed up-close, the portrait is fractured by the graffiti, eradicating the identity of this young man. Zhang Dali paints here using the photographic gray-scale, heightening the sense of realism and the black and white vintage photographs. "AK-47"(G.10) comes directly to artnet Auctions from a Private Collection, China, where it has been held since 2008. The painting measures 70.80 x 59.05 inches and is in excellent condition.

In 1989, internationally renowned Chinese artist Zhang Dali (AKA 18K and AK-47) traveled to Italy in the 1980's, a culture that clearly embraces its architectural and artistic history. While there, he discovered the urban sprawl of graffiti, an event which altered his life and art, and eventually jump-started his career. It was in Italy that he first spray-painted the stylized image of his own bald head in profile, which would later become the visual focus of his photographic series.

Zhang returned to China in the early 1990's and began his "Dialogue and Demolition" photographic series that documents the massive social change that China has recently been experiencing. Graffiti is forbidden in China, and Zhang’s tag work on abandoned buildings marked for demolition is in itself a performance piece, with the spray paint acting the complete antithesis of traditional Chinese inks. His photographs have been featured in many recent international exhibitions including the 2011 Venice Biennale, and will be in the forth-coming Museum Exhibitions: “New Photography 2011,” at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY and “Faking It: Manipulated Photography Before Photoshop,” in 2012 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY.Select US Public Collections: Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, NY), Museum of Modern Art (New York, NY)
AK-47 (G.10) by Zhang Dali
  • AK-47 (G.10) by Zhang Dali
  • AK-47 (G.10) by Zhang Dali
  • AK-47 (G.10) by Zhang Dali
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  • Zhang Dali

    AK-47
    oil on canvas
    (H 70.9, W 59.1) in.
    (180 x 150) cm.
    Sold for: US$36,228
    Saturday, November 19, 2011
    Beijing A&F Auction Co., Ltd
    Lot 00638
  • Zhang Dali

    Ak-47 (Q.5)
    oil on canvas
    (H 40.2, W 32.3) in.
    (102 x 82) cm.
    Sold for: US$40,758
    Sunday, November 07, 2010
    Antik A.S.
    Lot 00101
  • Zhang Dali

    AK-47 (P2)
    oil on canvas
    (H 71.7, W 59.8) in.
    (182 x 152) cm.
    Sold for: US$52,562
    Tuesday, June 22, 2010
    Beijing JiuGe Auctions Co., Ltd.
    Lot 00602
  • Zhang Dali

    AK series, no. C3
    acrylic on canvas
    (H 70.1, W 59.1) in.
    (178 x 150) cm.
    Sold for: US$49,245
    Tuesday, April 13, 2010
    Cornette de Saint-Cyr
    Lot 00071
  • Zhang Dali

    Ak 47 series, no. A10
    acrylic on canvas vinyl
    (H 68.9, W 59.1) in.
    (175 x 150) cm.
    Sold for: US$46,899
    Saturday, October 24, 2009
    Millon & Cornette de Saint Cyr
    Lot 00066
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