ILLUSTRATED:
Yishu, Journal of Contemporary Chinese Art, issue of May / June 2010, Vancouver, color illustrated, cover

Qi Zhilong painted his Consumer Icon series from 1992 to 1994. He is one of the earliest Chinese political pop artists. Qi recalled that it is clearing up 'politics' in a political manner, instead of clearing up 'politics' with a notion of 'consumption'. Qi Zhilong said, From 1992 to 1994, I was painting Consumer Image, which was very different from the political pop and had fundamental distinction with consumer image some people still painting at present. Consumption is my idea of the rebel to political bop. In my point of view, the political pop is confronted with ideology, leading to another ideological myth of its own. The society in future will certainly be open and all ideologies can be consumed in the future. For this, the Consumer Image I depicted is just to clear up the political pop.

In 1995, Qi Zhilong bid farewell to the Consumer Image and turned to a series of paintings with the image of uniformed girls as the theme, Chinese Image. He described his creation at that time, Unlike Consumer Image, the girl is not adopted from the popular symbols in pubic, but the image is from my mind. What I need to know is how to solve the problem of presenting her in the image of contemporary. Figures must be in a sort of ambiguous way, including laughing appearance. My imaginary symbol has realized this change by this means, and this is just covertly matching the dashing features.

At Chinese Portrait Exhibition held in Municipal Art Gallery of Thessaloniki in Greece on October 10, 2007, Qi Zhilong displayed a dozen of masterpieces as an important part of the activity for 42 Demetria Art Festival to show his creative trend during 15 years (1992-2007). Political pop, consumerism, dashing art, post pop, and consumer realism adored recently are all symbols of Qi Zhilong. From Consumer Image to Chinese Girl, Qi Zhilong's works have only two subjects, but all history of Chinese contemporary art has been included.

Su Xianting, the renowned critic commented: There exists the beautifulness which would make you forget about tribulation; there exists the purity which would comfort you from desolation; there exists the sweetness that would touch the softest part of your heart, and would inspire you to recollect the hope to the future. This would be the beautiful and pure 'Chinese Girl' painted by Qi Zhilong.