Oil on canvas

100 × 80 cm. 39 3/8 × 31 1/2 in.

Signed in English and dated on bottom right
PROVENANCE
Private Collection, Asia

Strive, Love, Anticipate
Dong Shaw-Hwei's Still Life Captures Golden Streams in Tranquility

"I dare say that Dong Shaw-Hwei will not merely hold a place in the history of Taiwanese art but a very significant one."
——Wang Che-Hsiong, Taiwanese art historian

Born in 1962, Dong Shaw-Hwei graduated from the National Taiwan Normal University in 1992. During her studies, she delved into the philosophy of Zhuangzi, contributing to the book The Aesthetic Significance of Zhuangzi's Thought. Her deep philosophical views became evident in her later works. From 1994 to 2007, she extensively studied Impressionism in Europe, incorporating the wisdom of contentment from Zhuangzi's philosophy and Western oil painting techniques. Around 2009, she shifted towards the ambience of Chinese painting, developing a profound and simple visual style. In 2015, after facing the challenges of cancer, Dong Shaw-Hwei, supported by friends and family, expressed her appreciation for life and humanity through positive transformations in her art. Two years later, her large-scale solo exhibition at the National Museum of History in Taipei, solidified her prominent position in the Taiwanese art scene. In 2023, at the Hong Kong Basel Art Fair, collectors worldwide praised her work endlessly.

Meet When Flowers Bloom

"I paint from observation, from painting comes the artwork; observing the scenery, I also observe myself. Completing a still life is akin to solitary contemplation, providing profound tranquillity within."
——Dong Shaw-Hwei

The presented works, Camellia - Little Angel (Lot 82) and In the Morning – Azalea (Lot 81), were completed in 2023 and 2021 respectively. They belong to Dong Shaw-Hwei's Black Table Still Life series, exploring over thirty years of artistic practice, embodying minimalist strokes and abstract sentiments. In the past two years, amidst the turmoil of a pandemic and wars, she incorporated her compassionate feelings towards the world into this classic theme. The handling of the lines and leaves of the flowers is more dynamic, symbolizing the eternal cycle of life. Dong Shaw-Hwei recently embraced the use of golden edges to add a touch of elegance to her simple compositions, depicting the golden moments in everyday life. This unique shape of life conveys prayers and wishes for the well-being of the world.

In Twilight's Embrace, Who Halts the Thread's Dance
A Fragrance So Pure, It Echoes a Tea's Sweet Trance

"The camellia resembles a celestial being from heaven, pure, flawless, and calmly existing."
——Dong Shaw-Hwei

Dong Shaw-Hwei loves depicting "camellias," with each piece showcasing unique elegance and varied flower postures. In Camellia - Little Angel, a black table is centrally placed, its minimalist and abstract rectangular legs contrasting with realistically textured, mottled wood grain. Soft light illuminates a white camellia blossoming in a sky-blue porcelain vase, with branches and leaves freely growing to the upper left. The dark green leaves and the graceful, right-leaning loquat leaves on the table complement each other. On the left, a serene white flower and a lively reclining golden loquat, one on each side, mutually reflect each other. On the dynamic yet tranquil table, the artist remarkably uses a white sculpture to portray a Western little angel, clasping hands in prayer under the flower branches. Life in the painting gently grows under warm sunlight, showcasing an appreciation for the peaceful passage of time.

Wild Hearts Roam, Spring Hues Converse

In In the Morning – Azalea, the artist cleverly places the black table on the left side of the composition. A pot of red azaleas blossoms upwards, with a new bud emerging diagonally to the right, echoing the asymmetrical classical composition of Song Dynasty aesthetics. The slender branches are full of buds, and the bottom's crimson stamens burst open vibrantly. As the gaze rises, a central cluster of flowers captivates the eyes, dense yet not overwhelming, almost impossible to look away. Two blushing buds appear in the distance, shyly revealing the youthfulness of a girl.

The dots of crimson amid the myriad green leaves signify the beginning of life, awaiting the prosperous golden years under the warm sunshine, conveying an optimistic outlook for the future. Contrastingly, a cup of clear tea on the table, depicted with simple fan-shaped strokes, showcases transparency within the vessel, echoing the edge's accentuated whitespace. This, in contrast with the table and potted plant, portrays a dynamic and serene scene. The blooming flowers and tranquil tea tell a tale of both active and leisurely moments in life. The varied hues of flowers under the artist's brush, akin to the diverse facets of life, invite us to savour the golden moments in life.

Price estimate:
HKD: 260,000 – 350,000
USD: 33,200 - 44,700

Auction Result:
HKD: 312,000