Yue Minjun – Untitled (Smile-ism No. 12)

Untitled (Smile-ism No. 12): one print, 2006

• Artist: Yue Minjun (Chinese, b. 1962)
• Medium: Lithograph in colors
• Dimensions: 110 × 90 cm (43⅜ × 35½ in)

Untitled (Smile-ism No. 12) is a lithograph in colors, executed in 2006 by Yue Minjun — one of the most internationally celebrated figures of Chinese contemporary art, and a central figure of the Cynical Realism movement that emerged in China during the 1990s.

Untitled (Smile-ism No. 12) exemplifies the instantly recognizable visual language for which Yue Minjun has become renowned worldwide — the artist's own exaggerated, grinning self-portrait, repeated and multiplied across a body of work that interrogates identity, mass conformity, and the tensions of contemporary Chinese society beneath a surface of vivid color and seemingly joyful absurdity. The wide, toothy laughter that defines his figures functions as both mask and mirror, oscillating between celebration and unease, and has become one of the defining images of Chinese art on the global stage since the 1990s.

At 110 × 90 cm, the work commands a substantial, wall-dominating presence, allowing the full graphic intensity and psychological charge of Yue Minjun's signature imagery to unfold at real scale.

That same instantly recognizable Smile-ism vocabulary appears in Untitled (Smile-ism No. 14), 2006, a monumental color lithograph from the same edition of 45, acquired directly from the publisher. A related composition from the same year can be found in Untitled (Smile-ism No. 26), 2006, a signed and numbered color lithograph featuring his signature vibrant palette and exaggerated facial expressions — both available now at Lynart Gallery.

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FAQ

Is this an original work by Yue Minjun?
Yes — an authentic lithograph in colors by Yue Minjun, 2006.

What is the significance of Yue Minjun's smiling figures?
Yue Minjun's grinning self-portraits are among the most recognizable images in contemporary Chinese art, associated with the Cynical Realism movement and widely interpreted as a commentary on identity, conformity, and social anxiety beneath a surface of exaggerated joy.

What are the dimensions?
110 × 90 cm (43⅜ × 35½ in) — a substantial format with strong visual presence.

What is the condition?
Very good condition. Full condition report available upon request.

Is this artwork a good investment?
Yue Minjun is one of the most internationally recognized figures in contemporary Chinese art, with strong and consistent results at major international auction houses. His iconic smiling imagery remains among the most sought-after motifs from the Cynical Realism movement.

Is worldwide shipping available?
Yes — secure worldwide shipping from France with professional packaging, tracking, and insurance.