Zeng Fanzhi is one of the key contributors to the soaring fortunes of Chinese contemporary painting. His personal record hit a new high in October in London. One of his earlier works was auctioned off for 5.5 million U.S. dollars. Some critics worry that the focus on auction prices has led to a decline in creativity. Especially as artists are finding it more and more profitable to make variations of their best-known works instead of exploring new territory. But Zeng is not one of them.

      He's constantly coming up with artistic surprises. In today's "The List" we explore the fascinating story of oil painter,  Zeng Fanzhi.

      White masks, blank stares and puzzled eyes, these are just some of the images this introverted painter uses to express feelings of solitude and isolation.

      This evocative and powerful series has touched many the 1994 "Mask" series has brought Zeng Fanzhi to international prominence. One of his paintings sold for over $800,000 in 2006 at Christie's Hong Kong. Back then, that was an astronomical number for a Chinese contemporary artist.

      Zeng Fanzhi, oil painter, said, "I painted the series shortly after I arrived in Beijing in 1993. The new environment generated new feelings inside me. I actually portrayed myself in each of the series. But I don't think there is a definite meaning in them. Different people should come up with different ideas when seeing the pictures."

      Zeng's hometown is in Wuhan in Hubei province thousands of miles from his current headquarters in Beijing. He was born there in 1964, a time the country stressed austerity, discipline and legitimacy. But Zeng was not easily molded, staying purposeless until he picked up the artist's brush. He grew up amid an era of great changes. This, along with his experiences as a troubled child left an indelible influence on his views of the world and subsequently his art.

      A red scarf the symbol of achievement for a young student in China is something he yearned for but never got. But as compensation, he later frequently added red scarves into his works.

      Zeng graduated from the Hubei Academy of Fine Arts. His early works were strongly influenced by German Expressionism. The expressionistic style of his 1991 graduation piece "Hospital Triptych" featuring wild strokes and fleshy colors, garnered him a strong reputation in art circles.

      But rather than confining him to this genre, some critics suggested that a more fruitful approach might be to focus on the rich content of his work. His art is linked with history, emotions, fantasy and memories. so the painter becomes a storyteller. And Zeng agrees with this perception.

      Zeng Fanzhi, oil painter, said, "My objectives can be various. But an important part of them come from my childhood memories. China in the 1970's was a far cry from today. And the people and the environment from that time are imprinted my soul.I try to tell stories about those people through my brushes. So a lot of stories are woven into my works. And the stories are mostly related with my memories from those passed days."

      Many artists are happy to stick to a working "formula" in the current frenetic Chinese contemporary art market. But Zeng, in contrast, frequently alters his work and style.

      Zeng's paintings offer a permanent, unassuming and fundamental resistance to simplistic classification. Repeating himself is the least thing he wants to do.

      Zeng Fanzhi, oil painter, said, "I think you go backwards if you keep painting one subject, which you are less and less familiar with. It is only a matter of time before you lose all the recognition you gained before. The certain label attached to you could bring a lot of instant fame. But over the long term the label would deter your development. An artist should refuse to repeat himself all the time. And I am always strongly opposed to repeating myself in my works."

      Today constant changing, fluid formations filled with movement and vigor and power fill the dynamic canvases of Zeng Fanzhi.