One of the most striking aspects of Yue Minjun’s works is the ingenuity with which he here configures his satirical self-portrait in new and compelling settings and compositions. These faces, a signature motif present in Yue Minjun’s body of work, are always depicted with a wide-mouthed grin and eyes squeezed shut, often more than once within a composition. The absurdity of the hysterical laugh do not simply indicate happiness, but rather relay the complicated undercurrent of feelings that lie behind these toothy grins which reveal the deep gulf that lies between idealism and reality.

Painted in 2006, Untitled (Lot 33) depicts Yue’s signature stylized self-portrait with the juxtaposition of two smiling faces together. The imagery is often incorporated in surreal and absurd scenarios, indicating the artist’s own satirical and often cynical worldview, thus satirizing the lack of spirituality in contemporary times.