"What If no. 28" (2011) is a sublime, large-scale realist oil painting by rising star emerging Chinese female artist Zhao Shushi (Xi'an, China, b. 1980) that belongs to her most recent "What If" series paintings where everyday household objects, such as scissors, tables, clocks are rendered in a highly realist manner and stripped from any context, literally floating through the empty space of the canvas, often off-kilter. "What If no. 28" depicts what appears to be a pair of ornate, antique metal scissors, blades open. Upon further inspection, this object becomes surreal, with half of the scissors carved from dark wood for an unknown reason, rendering the scissors useless. This painting measures 59 x 47.25 inches and is in perfect condition, and comes to this Sale directly from The Studio of the Artist, China.

This new depiction of a romanticized still life object is combined with the artist's passion for classical Chinese literature and philosophy, here expressed in the ethereal elegant details and soft hues. She uses the principles of illusion and deception to explore new methods of visual expression. Zhao's understanding of both Western and Eastern cultures develops a new spirit of painting as a reaction to life and nature that reflects emotions and psychology of the both the artist and the viewer.

Zhao is of the finest Contemporary realist painters of her 1980's Chinese generation. She is knowledgeable of Western art trends and movements, such as surrealism, concepetualism and spatialism, learned after studying in New Zealand and France, as well as China. The artist studied Chinese painting and calligraphy as a child, and received her Master’s Degree in Art and Cultural Marketing at University of Montpellier, France with honors in 2010. In 2005 She was invited to participate in the first Biennale de l'art Contemporain Chinois de Montpellier, which initiated the Chinese contemporary art movement in France. The artist currently lives and works in Beijing, China.