Acrylic on canvas

127×96.5 cm 50×38 in

Signed and titled in English， dated on reverse
EXHIBITED
Oct 1996， Yang Chihung Solo EXHIBITION， International Art Palace， Beijing

PROVENANCE
Collection of Mountain Art Culture and Education Foundation
Important private collection， AsiaConfucianism vs. Taoism，
like-mindedness led to enduring fraternity
In the 1980s， Yang Chihung left Taiwan for New York to pursue a new chapter of his artistic enthusiasm and met Chen Danqing there， an artist from China mainland who had just emigrated to the US about the same time. Nostalgic sparks struck between these two artists who soon found each other a like-minded soul before comparing notes and exchanging whimsical ideas more often than not， and thus developed a sprouting fraternity which turned out long-lasting. Back then， Yang Chihung was creatively empowered and put on a galaxy of exhibitions one after another， which won much recognition and copious accolades for him in the occidental art circles.
An evocative incarnation of serendipity
At its very core， the choice between Confucianism and Taoism could be condensed into a symbolic definition of one’s inner pursuit in life， incarnated by a sage attitude towards worldly cares. In comparative terms， Taoism is characterized by an intuitive pursuit of spontaneity， instead of measured expression which is wildly advocated by Confucianism in all respects. In the realm of artistic creation， the Taoist genre is often represented by a sturdy aspiration after sheer transcendency in aesthetic forms sprinkled with scintillating features which are evocative of spiritual freedom and humanistic expression. Last Winter， a painting accomplished by Yang Chihung in 1994， is a graceful incarnation as such. Featuring a white chunk of backdrop interspersed with bluish purple hues， this artwork presents an eyeful of wintry cold at first sight， which seems to have annihilated everything alive. Yet upon closer observation， certain twigs， in their shape traversing the border between representational and abstract language， loom up robustly from a seemingly faded acre of brownish yellow land. Stripped of all their leafy accompaniments， these outshoots still manage to strike you as hopeful of an upcoming spring. It is precisely such a collected deportment of theirs that infuses you readily with a re-ignited vigor and courage for re-embracing your inner passions and dreams which might have been neglected for long.
In the vicinity of these meagerly recognizable visualizations of plant is a motley array of unassuming yet richly-structured tinges， giving way to some patches done in sleek， abstract strokes on the upper side of the painting. In consequence， a visual expanse of stark contrast burgeons up， dexterously enabling a materialization of some spatial vastness upon a canvas of limited size. Reportedly， more than one member of a mesmerized audience has found themselves wondering whether the painter has encapsulated his personal interpretations of certain vicissitudes of his life， airy or weighty， into this masterpiece which appears to a poetic palette of restrained emotional undercurrents evocative of those long-gone joys and tears in each perceptive mind’s eye.

Price estimate:
HKD: 150,000 – 250,000
USD: 19,200 – 32,100

Auction Result:
HKD: --