Ink and colour on paper

35×16 cm. 13 3/4×6 1/4 in

Signed in Pinyin and Chinese on bottom right； titled, signed and located in Chinese on reverse
PROVENANCE
Important Private Collection, Asia
This work is accompanied by a certificate issued by Chen Ting-Shih Modern Art Foundation.

Abandoning Oneself to the Medium：Ink Washes as Poetry
Chen Ting-Shih was born into a distinguished family of Fujian Province in 1915, but an accident at the age of eight permanently deafened him, after which time he spent much of his childhood learning traditional ink wash techniques from Fujianese painter Zhang Jiang. This helped him gain a solid foundation in Chinese painting, and after taking up residence in Taiwan in 1948, he joined renowned artistic organizations such as the Fifth Moon Group and the International Arts Society and even helped found the Modern Print Association with Yang Yuyu and Lee Shi-Chi. In his works, the artist experimented with mediums such as oil painting, sculpture, and printmaking, although part of his career has been defined by his powerful affiliation with ink washes and calligraphy. When creating ink washes, Chen rigorously adheres to the traditional Chinese aesthetic criteria, electing to depict subject matter such as landscapes, birds, and flowers, which imbues his works with particular cultural significance.
In the work presented at this auction, Figure and Calligraphy, Chen Ting-Shih combines ink washes and calligraphy into one of the greatest achievements of his career. The artwork adopts the typical vertical composition of traditional Chinese ink washes. At the center of the painting is a young Buddhist monk, bowing in reverence and holding a large stone in his hands, almost as if revealing his doubts to the natural world and humbly asking for its advice. Above the monk is a calligraphic rendering of a poem by Yung-ming Yen-shou, a legendary Buddhist monk during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms （907-979 C.E.） period of political upheaval that followed the decline of the Tang Dynasty：
“Words and scripture are illusory.
We must entirely abandon ourselves, our bodies and souls.
Then, the universe and the self shall be one.”
Art connoisseurs are invited to reflect upon this poem, in which master Yung-ming encourages people to abandon their study of Buddhist scriptures and pursue a life free of concern and material desire.

Price estimate:
HKD: 20, 000 - 40, 000
USD: 2, 600 - 5, 100

Auction Result:
HKD: 23,600