Untitled

Untitled (2006) by Baokang Zhao

Oil on canvas

Collector: Guan Wei

In 2006, when I was working on my exhibition Other Histories: Guan Wei’s Fable for a Contemporary World at the Powerhouse Museum, Baokang Zhao who was assisting me at the time showed me some of his new artworks. Among them was this highly abstract artwork with no title. In the work are some Chinese character strokes with other textures applied. I really liked the effect, so I told him that I would collect one of his artworks and asked him about the price. He told me $600 would do so I gave him $600 in cash and he gave me this painting. Afterwards he told me that I had saved his life. When I asked him why, he told me that two days earlier he’d been fined $500 for smoking at Central train station and that his wife didn’t know, and he didn’t dare tell her! With the $600, he was able to make up for the fine he had paid and there was no need to tell his wife anymore so he was safe. I laughed loudly. I was very happy to contribute to maintaining the harmonious relationship of the couple!

Guan Wei

(Guan Wei is an iconic figure in the Australian contemporary art scene and critically acclaimed internationally, and in 2021 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Creative Art from Western Sydney University in recognition of his tremendous contribution to Australian and Chinese contemporary art.)