Ever since establishing his reputation as one of the Generation of 85 group of artists who engaged with international contemporary art and culture, Sun Liang remains one of the most important and notable artists working today. Starting with his works being represented in the 1993 Venice Biennial, Sun Liang continues to bring the aesthetic of classical Chinese art into the world of contemporary art. His most acclaimed works are ones where he skillfully combines Chinese mythical creatures with biblical ones, creating a realm of dream-like fantasy and captivating his viewers with a touching beauty that surpasses both time and culture.

Peculiar Ending is typical of Sun Liang works during the latter half of 1980s. The forceful brushstrokes, bright colors, and expressionistic style illuminate a work that is rich in Chinese folklore. The work depicts the well-known story of jingwei, a bird who a mythical princess metamorphosed into after a tragic accident at sea. Following her transformation into jingwei, she laboriously picks up stone and twigs in an attempt to fill the sea so that no one will suffer the same fate as her. In Sun Liang’s depiction, the work exalts the inexorable and noble efforts of jingwei and reveals Sun’s deep fascination with China’s culture.