Acrylic， ink and colour on paper

45 x 48.2 cm. 17 3/4 x 19 in.

Signed and dated in Chinese and English on bottom left
PROVENANCE
Important Private Collection, Asia

A light flickers, the tranquil night scenting of lotuses
Chao Chung-Hsiang's Golden Decade
The decade between Chao Chung-Hsiang's return to Taiwan in 1980 to hold a solo exhibition until his death in 1991 was undoubtedly the most representative, key stage of his artistic creation. At that time, he was already in his 70s and could “follow the dictates of his own heart unrestrained.” This was clearly evident in how his brushstrokes evoked a certain sense of freedom.
A Return to Pure and Casual Painting
The four Chao Chung-Hsiang works featured in this auction are all masterpieces from this period. Seasoned viewers should be able to notice that the artist created the first shapes purely with intuition and then continued painting according to the forms he drew on the paper. It is common knowledge in traditional Chinese painting that the lotus flower has been regarded by the literati as the king of flowers. The Pure Land School of Buddhism also preaches that believers, upon death, are welcomed to the Pure Land by Amitabha Buddha on a lotus. This all led to lotuses becoming one of the favorite themes of painters of all periods. As it is the main theme of both the Birth of Lotus in Green Pool （Lot2） and the Divine Fragrance of the White Lotus（Lot3） , comparing the two works seems all too necessary. The first painting features a huge lotus flower painted with pure ink, and thanks to quick and short green brushstrokes, the whole flower appears brighter. The two horizontal leaves below are combined with the orange background, creating strong opposition to the flower above. In the second painting, the milky white flowers are beautifully contrasted with dark green leaves. Bright yellow halos diverge from the flower form the artist's signature motif — the shining circle of life. A few seemingly inadvertently scattered brushstrokes and a series of ink dots on the left bring life to the image, which seems to emit a faint fragrance, reflecting an atmosphere worthy of traditional Chinese literati.
Blooming Wisdom and Spiritual Awakening
Blooming Wisdom（Lot1） was completed in 1984. Two ink-drawn blooming lotus flowers are arranged in the middle and in the upper right corner, composed of dense orange-red and light-green dots. The lines of ink on the right and bottom of the picture may look like a simple decoration at first glance, but after a closer look, they turn out to be a school of lively little fish, swimming leisurely around the flowers. The picture features a brilliant composition of dark and light colors and a perfect balance in terms of the sparse and dense arrangement of objects.
All artists strive to demonstrate their unique spirituality, and Spiritual Awakening（Lot4） , dated 1989, is proof of Chao Chung-Hsiang's own pursuit. It can even be regarded as the summary of his more than 70 years of life. The picture features three colors — bright yellow, light blue, and pink — fluctuating and spreading outward, forming a shining “circle of life”. On top of the colorful whirlpool, the artist used calligraphic style to paint bamboo leaves, which seem to be swaying in the wind. The image does not convey any signs of weakness, illness, or loneliness, so common among the elderly； rather, it reflects Chao's meticulous observation of bamboo leaves and also the emotions of his heart. Viewers are bound to appreciate the strong feeling of vitality captured in the picture and understand the philosophy behind it: the universe and society are all components of the cycle of life!

Price estimate:
HKD: 80,000 - 150,000
USD: 10,200 - 19,100

Auction Result:
HKD : 94,400