Luscious art pieces created with thick oil paint

Xu Zhen, “Under Heaven -2808TR1601”

Xu Zhen, “Under Heaven – 2808TV1512”

This is the work of multi-disciplinary Chinese artist Xu Zhen, who lives and works in Shanghai. It looks like ceramic, or cake frosting, but it is actually oil paint. Dried oil paint. I am thinking, these luscious artworks must take, literally, years to dry…

“The paintings from Xu’s ongoing Under Heaven series are a voluptuary dream. He applies a thick layer of oil paint to a canvas and then forms delicate petals and flowers using a cake decorator. The resulting impasto creates a striking relief, tempting the viewer to touch or even taste. The expansive title, Under Heaven, is a literal translation of a Chinese word meaning “the whole world.” The sumptuous surfaces as well as the allusive title make the works an intense sensual experience.”

(via)