Oil on paper

39×27.3 cm. 15 3/8×10 3/4 in

Dated and Signed in Chinese and English abbreviation on bottom right
PROVENANCE
Important Private Collection, Asia

Ma Ming, born in 1959 in Hong Kong, has had a passion for artistic creation since he was a little boy. As a young man, he performed manual labor on ships as a means of supplementing his family’s meager income, but he later decided to pursue his artistic dreams, choosing to specialize in his favorite medium： painting. His creations feature a diverse range of subject matter, including people, flowers, and different types of objects. In his daily life, Ma Ming is a rather reserved and reclusive man who spends much time painting in his attic, and for this reason, the celebrated Taiwanese-Hong Kong film director Yonfan, who greatly appreciates his work, refers to him as “the painter in the attic”. Ma Ming has previously described his works as “simultaneously expressing beauty and melancholy”, and the two portraits sold at this auction, Girlhood and The Wind Blows On, allow those who reflect upon them to experience this intriguing combination of emotions.
Beauty： Complexity of a Young Woman’s Inner World
Ma Ming’s portraits are generally not painted on large paper； very often, he challenges himself to convey clear feelings and ideas within a limited area. These portraits usually depict their subjects’ upper bodies, centering on the face, and Ming’s work Girlhood is no exception. The subject’s neat schoolgirl hairstyle, butterfly hairclip, and smock with a bright blue Peter Pan collar evoke memories of being a young student. The girl in the portrait stares directly at the viewer； her crystal-clear eyes provide an unobstructed insight into her inner world and give an impression of childlike innocence. The long, thin lines that form the contours of her nose, face, and neck are reminiscent of the brushwork that the famous Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani uses in his portraits. They serve to make the image more dramatic, while the yellow bird on the girl’s shoulder in the meantime adds novelty to the image. A symbol of love and freedom, it hints at the girl’s innermost feelings.
Melancholy： The Wind Blows On, Memories of the Past
Ma Ming has produced pen-and-ink drawings of many of Hong Kong’s celebrities. The Wind Blows On is an intricate work that depicts Leslie Cheung, a superstar during the 80s and 90s, performing at an enormous concert. The drawing evokes in great detail the handsome features and elegant poses of the celerity, who has since passed on, depriving the world of his immense talent, but leaving many memories of his success. As one gazes upon The Wind Blows On, one can almost hear Leslie Cheung softly singing the song after which the drawing was named. In hindsight, the lyrics seem to tell the story of Leslie himself：
“The wind blows on,
I cannot bear to part
In my heart,
I long to remain by your side
And sift through the joyful memories
Of days gone by.”
Beauty and Melancholy
Painter in the Attic by Ma Ming

Price estimate:
HKD: 50, 000 - 80, 000
USD: 6, 400 - 10, 300

Auction Result:
HKD: 59,000