Items Similar to " I am a Ninja" Pop Art Portrait in Amsterdam by Shao Qi
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 9
Shao Qi" I am a Ninja" Pop Art Portrait in Amsterdam by Shao Qi2011
2011
About the Item
In the infinitely complex world of contemporary art, many works serve as vehicles for thought, postural statements, and emotion. Such is the case with SHAO QI, a renowned Chinese artist who skillfully blends the political, cultural, and aesthetic in her lithographic work entitled "I am a Ninja."
This piece, limited to thirty copies, numbered 21/30 in pencil and dated 2011, is a perfect example of how cross-influences can be integrated and cultural barriers broken down.
Historically, ninjas were inferior warriors in feudal Japan, often recruited by samurai and governments to serve as spies. Their mysteriousness has allowed them to infiltrate contemporary popular culture, so much so that their ubiquity eventually transcends borders, internationalizing the ninja and rendering its Japanese origin a simple detail, among others, in public perception, a component of a character that has become universal.
Pop art, an artistic movement of the second half of the 20th century, is known for its appropriation and subversion of consumer products and cultural icons. By hijacking elements of mass culture, pop artists such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein transformed the perception of art and its eligible subjects. The use of a ninja silhouette in "I Am a Ninja" follows this tradition, exploiting a popular symbol to reimagine it.
The dynamic interplay of colors, in particular the aesthetic power of red and black, is essential. Red's radiant luminescence contrasts sharply with black's ultimate absorption, framing the work in a colorimetric face-off reminiscent of the propaganda posters of yesteryear. Red, the color of revolution, power, passion, and vitality, blends with black, shadow, and emptiness.
The bold black lines that delineate the figure are reminiscent of Shepard Fairey's work under the OBEY signature. These lines convey a vibrant, primitive force akin to Russian Constructivist posters, loading the artwork with a declarative aura.
In the background, the letters "Amsterdamse" followed by a word starting with "H O G" allude to the backdrop's origin, which could have come from a Dutch poster. This subtle wink adds an extra layer of intrigue and boundary-breaking determination.
Now imagine this: you're walking down a dimly lit alley when you hear a faint murmur behind you. Before you can turn around, a shadowy figure falls from the rooftops, sword flashing in the moonlight. You brace yourself, but instead of attacking, the ninja performs an elegant somersault, landing in front of you and striking a spectacular pose. Just as quickly, it disappears into the night, leaving you with your heart pounding. Yes, it's a ninja!
With this lithography, SHAO QI asserts that symbols and motifs traditionally attached to a specific culture can be adopted and reformulated in an increasingly interconnected world.
- B I O -
Shao Qi, born in 1987 in Shanghai, China, is a distinguished artist known for her unique approach to visual communication. She graduated in 2011 from East China Normal University in Shanghai, specializing in image communication. Shao Qi's career has been marked by numerous significant exhibitions. In 2012, she showcased her work at the Los Angeles World Exhibition, the Shanghai City Art Fair, and the Australian Art Fair, where she held solo exhibitions that solidified her reputation in the art world. The previous year, she participated in the Shanghai Youth Art Exhibition and had a solo exhibition at the Shanghai Art Fair. In 2010, Shao Qi's work was featured at the Saint-Andéen Biennale in France and in "The Age of Jelly" exhibitions in Lyon, France, and Basel, Switzerland. She also held a solo exhibition at the Shanghai Spring Art Salon that same year. Her earlier achievements include participation in the 2009 "Exhibition of Innovative Art Design Works by University Students" at the Shanghai Art Fair and "The Second Animation Aesthetic Biennale" at the Shanghai Museum of Contemporary Art. Shao Qi's talent was recognized early in her life, with her work appearing in the 1998 "Sakura" Sino-Japanese Painting Competition, the 1997 2nd "International Aviation Painting Competition," and international children's painting exhibitions in the Netherlands and India in 1994. Shao Qi's artistic journey reflects her consistent ability to engage and inspire through her thought-provoking and visually striking works.
- Creator:Shao Qi (1987, Chinese)
- Creation Year:2011
- Dimensions:Height: 37.25 in (94.62 cm)Width: 25.25 in (64.14 cm)Depth: 0.88 in (2.24 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:Excellent original condition.
- Gallery Location:Pasadena, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU654314591912
About the Seller
5.0
Gold Seller
Premium sellers maintaining a 4.3+ rating and 24-hour response times
Established in 1999
1stDibs seller since 2017
72 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 9 hours
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Pasadena, CA
- Return Policy
Authenticity Guarantee
In the unlikely event there’s an issue with an item’s authenticity, contact us within 1 year for a full refund. DetailsMoney-Back Guarantee
If your item is not as described, is damaged in transit, or does not arrive, contact us within 7 days for a full refund. Details24-Hour Cancellation
You have a 24-hour grace period in which to reconsider your purchase, with no questions asked.Vetted Professional Sellers
Our world-class sellers must adhere to strict standards for service and quality, maintaining the integrity of our listings.Price-Match Guarantee
If you find that a seller listed the same item for a lower price elsewhere, we’ll match it.Trusted Global Delivery
Our best-in-class carrier network provides specialized shipping options worldwide, including custom delivery.More From This Seller
View All" I am a Mexican" Pop Art Portrait of a Man in Amsterdam by Shao Qi
Located in Pasadena, CA
In contemporary art's diverse and infinitely complex world, many works serve as vehicles for thoughts, statements, and emotions. SHAO QI, a Chinese artist born in 1987 in Shanghai, blends political, cultural, and aesthetic elements in her lithographic work titled "I am Mexican." This piece, limited to fifty copies and numbered 21/50 in pencil, dated 2011, transcends the materiality of art to explore societal palimpsests and interrogate notions of identity and globalization.
The dynamic confrontation of colors, particularly the dichotomy of red and black, is essential. The radiant luminescence of red contrasts sharply with the ultimate absorption of black, framing the piece in a colorimetric standoff reminiscent of vintage propaganda posters. Red, the color of revolution and power, passion and vitality, mingles with black, the shade of shadow and void, embodying the potential for new beginnings, as French artist William Klein once proclaimed.
SHAO QI employs a stylistic language that is instilled with almost raw expressiveness. The bold black strokes outlining the figure are reminiscent of Shepard Fairey's work under the OBEY signature. These black lines convey a vibrancy and primal force akin to Russian constructivist posters...
Category
2010s Pop Art More Prints
Materials
Lithograph
$850 Sale Price
34% Off
Los Angeles Summer Games 1984, Vintage Poster
Located in Pasadena, CA
This vintage poster from 1984, designed by doll historians Stéphanie Farago and Bob Dennison, features seven Lenci dolls in a setting related to the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los ...
Category
1980s Pop Art More Prints
Materials
Offset
"Bull and Butterfly" Lithograph signed F.G.Silva
Located in Pasadena, CA
This lithograph signed by F.G Silva shows a colorful combination of a bull and a butterfly referring to the ideas of strength and delicacy.
The late Franco Gregori Silva was born in Cignone-Cremona...
Category
Mid-20th Century Abstract Expressionist More Prints
Materials
Lithograph
$580 Sale Price
31% Off
JUPITER FIVE 4/10 Signed Louise Siekman
Located in Pasadena, CA
An otherworldly, black and white lithograph in a jigsaw puzzle piece shape, enclosed by negative. Signed L. Siekman. Unframed.
Category
Mid-20th Century Other Art Style More Prints
Materials
Lithograph
"The Soft Screws" Pop-Art Print by Claes Oldenburg Published by Gemini G.E.L
By Claes Oldenburg
Located in Pasadena, CA
This print sits in its original chrome frame and it is numbered 7/26 but not signed since each image has been cut out from a sheet to fit in the little windows.
Gemini G.E.L is an ar...
Category
Mid-20th Century Conceptual More Prints
Materials
Steel
“Visions of the Unseen”, Artist Proof Screen print (2/ 25) by Jonathan Winters
By Jonathan Winters
Located in Pasadena, CA
Step into the marvelous world of Jonathan Winters, the incomparable American actor whose artistry transcended the stage and screen. Like outsider artists, Winters didn't adhere to fo...
Category
Late 20th Century Symbolist More Prints
Materials
Screen
You May Also Like
Jasper Johns at Leo Castelli offset lithograph poster (Hand signed & inscribed)
By Jasper Johns
Located in New York, NY
Jasper Johns
Jasper Johns at Leo Castelli (Hand signed and inscribed), 1976
Offset lithograph poster (hand signed and warmly inscribed by Jasper Johns)
Signed and inscribed "for Cord...
Category
1970s Pop Art Abstract Prints
Materials
Offset, Lithograph
Untitled from In the Bottom of My Garden (Plate 9)
By Andy Warhol
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Andy Warhol
Title: Untitled (Plate 9)
Portfolio: 1956 In the Bottom of My Garden
Medium: Offset lithograph and watercolor on paper
Date: 1956
Sheet Size: 8 1/2" x 11"
Signatu...
Category
1950s Pop Art Figurative Prints
Materials
Lithograph
Untitled from In the Bottom of My Garden (Plate 18)
By Andy Warhol
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Andy Warhol
Title: Untitled (Plate 18)
Portfolio: 1956 In the Bottom of My Garden
Medium: Offset lithograph and watercolor on paper
Date: 1956
Sheet Size: 8 1/2" x 11"
Signat...
Category
1950s Pop Art Figurative Prints
Materials
Lithograph
Untitled from In the Bottom of My Garden (Plate 11)
By Andy Warhol
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Andy Warhol
Title: Untitled (Plate 11)
Portfolio: 1956 In the Bottom of My Garden
Medium: Offset lithograph and watercolor on paper
Date: 1956
Sheet Size: 8 1/2" x 11"
Signat...
Category
1950s Pop Art Figurative Prints
Materials
Lithograph
Untitled from In the Bottom of My Garden (Plate 1)
By Andy Warhol
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Andy Warhol
Title: Untitled (Plate 1)
Portfolio: 1956 In the Bottom of My Garden
Medium: Offset lithograph and watercolor on paper
Date: 1956
Sheet Size: 8 1/2" x 11"
Signatu...
Category
1950s Pop Art Figurative Prints
Materials
Lithograph
Spray Can, from 1¢ Life
By Roy Lichtenstein
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Roy Lichtenstein
Title: Spray Can
Portfolio: 1¢ Life
Medium: Lithograph on white wove paper
Year: 1963
Edition: 1762/2000
Frame Size: 21 1/4" x 19 1/4"
Sheet Size: 16" x 11 1...
Category
1960s Pop Art Still-life Prints
Materials
Lithograph
