This watercolour painting depicts fantastical beings with lotus flowers and leaves against a blue background. The lotus plants rise from below, and some creatures rest in the leaves and petals, while others fly above. The creatures have multiple breasts, thin strands of hair, and feathered wings. In the 1980s and early 1990s, self-taught artist Gu Dexin produced a series of small-scale surrealistic portrayals of humanoids, frequently in settings that feature fruit and leaves. Gu developed this imaginative world using clay, plastic, and computer animation. In his later practice, in the 1990s and 2000s, he explored ideas of decay and sensuality in visceral ways. Most of his works are untitled or named for the date of their creation, reflecting the artist’s desire to leave interpretation to the viewer. Gu withdrew from art completely in 2009.