Goddess of Flowers No.1

Zhang Xiaogang’s Big Family series, created during the 1990s, employed the format of the traditional family portrait to probe questions of history and memory, establishing itself as an iconic milestone in Chinese contemporary art. Goddess of Flowers No.1 marks a crucial turning point in his early artistic practice. Following his active participation in the ’85 New Wave movement and the Southwest Art Group, Zhang’s style shifted from the oppressive absurdity of his so-called “Devil Period” to the more transcendent and dreamlike “Other Shore Period.” In this work, the blue Flower Goddess stands among blossoms and leaves, radiating a primal yet solemn aura of mystery. The vast foliage behind simultaneously symbolises the inexhaustible vitality of nature and alludes to the intrinsic unity between humanity and the myriad forms of life. To a certain extent, it also echoes the themes of life and kinship that underpin Big Family.