Eli Klein Fine Art is pleased to announce the opening on April 23rd, 2009, of Redefining Surrealism. Curated by Nancy Nan, this exhibition brings together the work of five established artists—Jiang Huan, Liu Yan, Ma Bing, Xia Xing, and Xiao Se. These artists do not create simple portrait-like depictions of their subjects, rather they offer a profound reflection on the changes occurring in the lifestyles of the Chinese.

China has been in the grip of a relentless process of change on a scale that has never been seen before. Walls were erected during the Olympics to blind foreigners from the sights of the poor, undeveloped China. China is torn by the ever-increasing gap between those living the glamorous, wealthy lifestyle and those who constitute the impoverished underclass.

This exhibition breaks with temporal limitations to juxtapose historical and current figures conversing with one another. Erotic, yet poetic, metaphors are conveyed by vivid depictions of women’s gestures and looks, rendered in the style of western classical realism and presenting a poetic sensation of traditional Chinese literature.

A common theme in this exhibition is to pull symbols from the enormous wealth of Chinese culture to try to create a unique understanding of that which is Chinese.