At first glance, Sun Yitian’s artwork appears bright, clean, and almost familiarly comforting. However, beneath these polished paintings lies a deeper complexity—a blend of innocence and artificiality, nostalgia and discomfort. This unique quality has positioned her as a significant figure in today’s contemporary painting scene.
Credit:© Andrea Rossetti.
Following Art Basel Hong Kong 2026, Sun’s painting “Ken” (2023) is now featured exclusively in the Art Basel Hong Kong 2026 Collection available on Samsung Art TVs.
Samsung Newsroom recently interviewed Sun to discuss her artistic philosophy, her visual expression, and the inspiration behind her collaboration with Samsung Art Store.
Credit: Sun’s Studio and BANK.
Painting the Familiar Anew
Q: “Ken” (2023) is part of this year’s Art Basel Hong Kong collection on Samsung Art Store. What does this piece mean to you?
Sun: The earlier versions of “Ken” were relatively small. This is the first time I’ve painted him on a large scale—three meters wide. I wanted the male figure to become the focal point. Barbie’s boyfriend, Ken, is emblematic of our current era: handsome, healthy, and radiant, yet devoid of substance—just plastic inside. He exists solely as Barbie’s counterpart. I aimed to portray him not as a toy but as a living, beautiful head. When traditional faith is removed from pilgrimage, it reflects a modern dilemma.
Q: Your paintings often start with familiar objects and images. What draws you to these subjects, and what do they allow you to explore?
Sun: Growing up in China during the 1990s, I, like many my age, was an only child. This was a time of rapid economic change, marked by reform and increased global trade. My hometown, Wenzhou, is known for manufacturing. As a child, I often visited local factories and spent time with toys and other goods ready for export. At home, I was often alone with my dolls while my parents were away. Later, in college, I visited Yiwu, known for its wholesale markets. The small everyday objects there—shapes, materials, colors, textures—seemed to encapsulate a specific era. This experience inspired my “Man-Made Objects” series. In today’s world, objects are increasingly transient. I feel a connection to these fleeting items made on assembly lines. They were my childhood companions and also reflect our current time.
Q: What does painting allow you to do with these familiar objects that other media might not?
Sun: Like the subjects I depict, paint itself is a material object. I use one object—paint—to represent another through realism. The physical presence of the painting matters to me, distinguishing it from an image on a screen. I value painterliness but prefer subtlety in my brushwork, allowing texture to emerge quietly.
Where Nostalgia Meets the Present
Q: What initially drew you to painting as a means of interpreting the world?
Sun: I studied at an art school in Beijing, but painting has been part of my life since childhood. Through practice, I developed my artistic language. As a child, I loved Shogo Hirata’s fairy tale books and frequently copied characters from “Sailor Moon.” I recall drawing a princess in kindergarten, cutting slits into her dress, and seeing the light make it glow. That moment showed me the intrigue of drawing, and I wanted to continue.
Q: Your paintings are precise yet leave room for ambiguity. How do you manage this balance?
Sun: Precision in object choice, brushwork, and viewpoint allows ambiguity and emotion to surface. Without this, it would merely depict an object without meaning.
Q: How has technology influenced art creation and experience today?
Sun: New technologies continuously reshape art creation. As a painter, I recognize painting as an old medium, but I’m open to new tools and languages. They encourage reflection on painting’s current significance and future direction.
From the Fair to Everyday Life
Q: How does Samsung Art Store offer a different context for experiencing your work at home?
Sun: In private settings, digital displays can alter the perception of my work. This shift allows personal encounters with art in everyday life. On displays like The Frame, viewers can notice details they might miss in a gallery. However, the original painting maintains its physical presence, inspiring curiosity to see both. Currently, “Ken” is on view at the Long Museum in Shanghai.
(From left) 2026 OLED S95H, The Frame Pro and Micro RGB.
Q: What interested you in partnering with Samsung Art Store, and what do you hope viewers gain from this experience?
Sun: I hope friends turn on their Samsung TV, see my giant “Ken,” and feel a little surprised!
Samsung Electronics is the official display partner of Art Basel and launches the Art Basel Collections on Samsung Art Store. These curated digital exhibitions are available exclusively on Samsung Art Store and feature artists showcased at four Art Basel venues—Hong Kong, Basel, Paris, and Miami Beach. Samsung Art Store offers over 5,000 artworks in 4K from more than 800 artists and 80+ partners through a single subscription service, available across Samsung’s 2026 Art TV lineup, designed to blend seamlessly into everyday interiors.
