Oil on canvas

46.5 x 55 cm. 18 1/4 x 21 5/8 in.

Signed in Chinese on bottom right
PROVENANCE
Acquired directly from the artist's family by present Asian collector

This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued by ARZ International Corp., Taiwan

Leisure that Underlies Vigor
The Food Memory of Wan Jinsheng

As the trailblazer of Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts, Wan Jinsheng was a committed art educator lifelong and a leading second-generation oil painter of northeastern China with his own signature characteristics. Wan's creations, ranging from landscape and still life, are imbued with down-to-earth realism, color mastery and vigorous strokes that exude strong vitality and emotional appeal. His works were included in National Art Exhibition several times and are collected by National Art Museum of China and Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution.

Cuisine as a Memory Medium

” If one views things from his realm of self, the objects are therefore projected with his personal feelings. “
——Wang Guowei

Northeastern China was the cradle of creativity and source of inspiration to Wan. Fish (Food Memory) features a very daily-life setting that gives off a warm feeling with local characteristics. As the subject of the painting, mackerels imply abundance given fish has almost the same pronunciation with abundance in Chinese. The side ingredients, including leeks, red and green peppers, make the dish a delicacy that may remind the viewer of their own happy memory. At the center are two plump mackerels stacked onto each other. The dish is placed on a wooden box against an earthy background, creating an intimate mood with a sense of peace representative to the still life during the Dutch Golden Age. The leeks at the back, an iconic ingredient of Northeastern cuisine, are complemented by the pepper mix at the bottom left in terms of composition and color. The painting serves as a two-dimensional replica of kitchen and a well-intentioned placebo for homesick viewers.

Wan creatively played with color and composition to successfully bring out the transgenerational implications of food and convey the tender feelings it carries.

Price estimate:
HKD: 75,000 – 95,000
USD: 9,700 – 12,300

Auction Result:
HKD: --