Jin Lian 金莲
2022
35*35cm Acrylic painting
The name Jinlian carries the weight of history and culture, embodying the contradictions of femininity in traditional Chinese society. On one hand, it echoes the infamous Pan Jin Lian from Water Margin, whose notoriety has overshadowed the humanity of her story, branding her as a symbol of moral transgression. On the other hand, it evokes the fragile beauty of bound feet, the so-called “three-inch Jin Lian （golden lotuses）三寸金莲,” an ideal of beauty that also speaks to the pain and oppression women endured.
In these two paintings, artist explores Jin Lian not just as a name, but as a symbol of the complex layers of identity, desire, and sacrifice that women have carried through centuries.