Watercolour on paper

55 × 74.2 cm. 21 5/8 × 29 1/4 in.

Signed in Chinese and dated on bottom left
PROVENANCE
Cezanne Art, Taichung
Acquired directly by present private important Asian collector from the above

The Grand View, the True Sincerity, and the Eternal Beauty

Starting from 1948, Shiy started using watercolour as the medium to create his artwork. He kept sketching from life, taking a record of the touching scene in front him onto his work. His early works of watercolour depicted scenes such as a busy entrance of the temple, the street view of Taipei, demonstrating his concern about the local folklore. However, starting from the end of the 60s, these dazzling colours in his art suddenly disappeared, instead, there is a purely peaceful beauty of natural scenery, expressing a tranquil steadiness within the ever-green life. “Riverside of Tamshui”, completed in 1979, is the representative if this mindful status.

In this work of art, Shiy thoroughly demonstrated his high skill in watercolour that had been practiced via sketching over 30 years. On top of the wetpaint, the artist adds layers of colours and powerful lines with no hesitation, illustrating the river view with a clear division of the fore, middle and back grounds. Very preciously, there is an amazing combination of all Shiy's classic elements that he loves to put into watercolour art – architecture, a distinctive boat, his favourite Mount Guanyin, as well as the clear water, giving this artwork the reputation of being the masterpiece of his watercolour creation. Using free strokes to paint, with a mixture of verdant and dark green, he creates the riverside full of grass. The little boat by the shore gets along with the house, together with river water of a gentle crimson tone, implying the sunrise is in a minute. All of this brings the audience a warm sense among the grand view between sky and earth.

The middle ground, with the free strokes dancing on the wetpaint, the proper amount of water allows them to drip and wipe naturally, creating the atmosphere of how the river runs from high land to the lower in an everchanging space. Over the river, the bridge that connects both ends, together with the mountains hidden in the background, implicitly demonstrate the strength in the spirit of calligraphy. The lines of the bridge, steady and straight, shows no hesitation in the artist's mind. The layers of mountain, created by rendering technique, carrying the fantastic tone of violet, together with the gothic styled church on the right corner, express how the artist deeply admires this mountain, this landscape, this scenery that embraces his mindful residence. The whole work of art can be regarded as “done at once”. As a masterpiece, it shows the secret path that leads Shiy into the status of eternity. This work of art sheds the garments of hypocrisy, showing its truth, which looks ordinary, yet actually fascinating, letting your thought fly free.

Price estimate:
HKD: 480,000 – 680,000
USD: 61,900 – 87,700

Auction Result:
HKD: 566,400