Eli Klein Fine Art is pleased to present a solo exhibition of new paintings and sculpture by Han Yajuan.

In Indulgence and Transcendence, Han Yajuan’s familiar kawaii style characters are once again the subjects of her work. Luxurious objects symbolizing abundance, from snorkel gear to spacesuits, litter these new mural-sized paintings. Simultaneously, these paintings revel in the pleasures of consumption. By juxtaposing her signature female figures with an affinity for material indulgence and revealing clothing, she accurately illustrated the growing allure of wealth that continues to influence certain parts of China.

Han Yajuan’s new works challenge the viewer to question the unknown behind reality. Through her newly muted colors, a departure from her earlier brightly-colored canvases, Han Yajuan creates an abstract environment for her characters to contemplate and explore. Her collection, including works titled Déjà vu and Splash Bash No. 1, depict the most glamorous aspects of contemporary Chinese life, while also opening up the possibility of spiritual enlightenment.

Han Yajuan was born in Qingdao, China in 1980, and earned her Bachelor of Arts from the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou and her Master of Fine Arts from the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. Her work has been exhibited in museum shows around the world including “Floating – New Art of China,” National Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoul, Korea (2007); “Metropolis Now – A Selection of Chinese Contemporary Art,” Meridian International Center, Washington, DC (2009); “China: The Contemporary Rebirth,” Palazzo Reale, Milan, Italy (2009); “Translucence – Female Contemporary Art from China,” Centrale Électrique, Brussels, Belgium (2009); and “Future Pass,” Palazzo Mangilli-Valmanara, Venice, Italy; Wereldmuseum, Rotterdam, Netherlands; National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taichung, Taiwan; Today Art Museum, Beijing, China (2011-2012).

The exhibition will be on view at Eli Klein Fine Art from October 5 through November 20, 2011 and is accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue with essays by Josef Ng and Zhu Zhu. Please join us for the opening reception on Wednesday, October 5, from 6 – 9 PM. The artist will be present.