Easily mistaken for a color photograph, "If This is Real, It is Hard to Tell" (2011) is one of the largest and most visually arresting of the surreal, photo-realist figurative oil paintings by important "New Realist" artist, Yang Peng (China, b.1984). A naked young woman stands at center, her nudity covered by her own hands and her cascading, long black hair, as well as by a collective number of anonymous hands that unabashedly clutch at the most private regions of her body. In this manner, Yang makes a powerful statement protesting China's present day, harsh censorship laws against individual freedoms. In turn, the artist heightens emotional and physical tension by cropping this portrait, so that the face of the woman is not revealed, transforming her into a powerful and beautiful visual metaphor, representing all young Chinese women repressed by his country. This dialectic of dynamism versus tranquility, reality versus fantasy is inherent to Yang's oeuvre. "If This is Real, It is Hard to Tell" is unframed, measures 66.95 x 55.15 inches (170 x 140 cm) and in excellent condition.

Yang Peng graduated from Sichuan Academy of Fine Arts, China with a B.F.A. and received his M.F.A from Sichuan Academy of Fine Arts in 2009. Long before he received his formal Fine Art degrees, Peng's work was the subject of important solo and group Museum and gallery exhibitions, including in 2011:, "We - The Value of Community", Chongqing 501 Museum of Contemporary Art and "Southwest Painting" Yunnan Culture Museum, China. In 2010 his work was shown in: "Art and Reborn-New Generation Exhibition", Huantieshidai Art Museum, Beijing, China and "The 19th National Prints Exhibition", Chongqing Art Museum. In 2009 Yang's work was featured in "Cross-Border and New Picture Views-Southwest Contemporary Art Exhibition", Taipei National Culture Museum, Taiwan. The artist lives and works in China.