THROUGH THE AGES – LANDSCAPES OF CONSCIOUSNESS

PRESS RELEASE | HONG KONG | 13 May 2016

Hong Kong- This season Christie’s is proud to present an extraordinary collection of Chinese landscape paintings depicted in Classical, Modern and Contemporary Ink works to be held on 29, 30 and 31 May.

The assemblage resonates with a depth of historical and cultural significance, as these scenes of nature remain a powerful source of inspiration from the classical periods to the present day. The momentous presence of nature left a deeply imprinted influence in Chinese artistic expression, with its depiction exceeding a mere presentation of the external world, but rather a deep reflection of a cultivated inner state of mind of the artist.

Ben Kong, Deputy Chairman, International Specialist, Head of Chinese of Paintings, commented “This season’s remarkable series of works provides a vantage point into the development of landscape painting through the ages, as each artist sought to interpret and connect with nature on a personal level. From the literati and cultivated pursuits of classical paintings, to the blending of western techniques in modern and contemporary works, the unifying theme of nature continues to be regarded as the highest form of Chinese painting to this day”. 

CHINESE CLASSICAL PAINTINGS AND CALLIGRAPHY

A standout highlight is Shen Zhou’s Listening to the Waterfall (illustrated left), which will be offered as part of Christie’s 30^th Anniversary Sale.

Shen Zhou was regarded as one of the Four Masters of the Wu School during the Ming period, a time during which the School started to flourish and become the mainstream of Chinese paintings and specifically landscape paintings.

In this work, Shen Zhou inscribed a seven-character poem to express his quest for eternal tranquility, through searching for the sounds of a waterfall.

The work has a rich provenance, having previously been in the collection of Kuwana Tetsujo (1864-1938) – master of Kyuka Inshitsu Kanzo Garoku. According to inscriptions on the inside cover of the wooden box accompanying the painting, the work was purchased in 1896 in one of Kuwana’s numerous trips to China. By 1929, the painting again changed hands to Sumitomo Kanichi (1896-1956), whose collection of Chinese paintings and calligraphy can be found in Sen-oklu Hakuko Kan in Japan. 

Featuring this season is Resting under Mountains and Trees by Lan Ying( illustrated right). The work is painted on luminous silk, is a medium the artist is well-known for. Lan Ying drew his inspiration from the literati tradition, studying the works of Yuan painters such as Huang Gongwang  and masters of the Wu School such as Shen Zhou, delivering his subject matter in a direct and comprehensible medium to viewers.  

An additional work by an early Qing painter is Travelling in the Mountains by Gu Fuzhen, (illustrated left). The work on silk is inscribed with a poem and signed with two seals of the artist.

MODERN CHINESE PAINTINGS

Modern masters will take the stage this season with a series of landscape paintings, vividly illustrating the tension and harmony of native and foreign styles, both old and new ideas that have shaped the artists’ perceptions and of modern China itself.

CHINESE CONTEMPORARY INK

In Northern Peaks by Li Huayi (illustrated right), the artist experiments with a blend of new and old techniques to create momentous presence. Li splashes ink onto paper which creates a free-form formation of dramatic mountains and cliffs before arduously adding realistic details using the fine brush (gongbi) technique. The resulting image is at once intimidating yet intimate, radiating a serene energy.

Depicting one of the most celebrated scholar’s rocks in history, Yan Shan by Xu Lei belongs to the Sea and Sky series that the artist began in 2010. The upper part of Yan Shan resembles the scholar’s rock in Song artist Mi Fu’s painting, while the bottom is a giant Taihu rock painted in the fine brush (gongbi) style.

As a master manipulator of the seen and unseen, Xu Lei invites contemporary viewers  into a visual conundrum to imagine a part of Yan Shan that is hidden and not illustrated, which metaphorically illustrates how truth is often concealed, and is merely a perceived reality.

Also of note is Liu Dan’s Spirit Rock, which will be offered as part of Christie’s Hong Kong’s 30th Anniversary’s Sale. Liu Dan depicts a scholar’s rock on the right of the composition to reflect a microscopic world. Through meticulously studying a small rock, Liu attempts to see the wider universe from a microscopic view, transforming a tangible object into an imaginary landscape prompting an inner spiritual awakening.

Notes to Editors:

The selections of works in this press release will offer as part of Christie’s sale of:

CHINESE CONTEMPORARY INK – 29 MAY  

FINE CHINESE CLASSICAL PAINTINGS AND CALLIGRAPHY - 30 MAY

30 YEARS: THE SALE – 30 MAY

FINE CHINESE MODERN PAINTINGS – 31 MAY

Venue : Convention Hall, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre,1 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong

Preview : Thursday – Saturday, 26 – 28 May 

PRESS CONTACT: Lee Bingle | +852 2978 9966| lbingle@christies.com