Oil on canvas

55 × 70 cm. 21 5/8 x 27 1/2 in.

Titled and signed in Chinese, dated on the reverse

LITERATURE
1993, 1991-1993 Su Wong-shen, Cherng Piin Gallery, Taipei, p.37
2016, Animal Farm: The Paintings of Su Wong-shen, Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei, p.122
EXHIBITED
1992, New Talent Group Exhibition, Cherng Piin Gallery, Taipei
24 Oct 2015 – 14 Feb 2016, Animal Farm: The Painting of Su Wong-shen, Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei

PROVENANCE
Cherng Piin Gallery, Taipei
Important Private Collection, Asia

This work is accompanied by a certification of authenticity issued by Cherng Piin Gallery, Taipei

Old Tree Memorial
The Humanist Reflections of Su Wong-shen
The early works of Su Wong-shen demonstrate the artist’s skill at abstract expressionist art. However, from 1987 Su focused on animal and social environment metaphors, expressing his understanding of society and history through the weird and wonderful aerial angles of his paintings, in the form of humanist reflections. In 1991, the artist painted Seven Chairs under the Tree, a marked departure from his habitual focus on daily life. This work uses an old tree as a historical vehicle, thereby connecting the view of observers and nature while also showcasing Su’s observations of society and his humanistic focus on land.
Su Wong-shen often incorporates memorials into his paintings as symbols of the way in which society and history are recorded. Moreover, for the artist trees are the perfect natural memorial. The large robust tree in the painting symbolizes the weight and value of history as it takes on the changing times, having listened to the conversations of countless people stood under its branches for a century and witnessed the unfolding of social phenomena. Su chooses nighttime as a reminder that it is important to review the happenings of the day each and every night. As night approaches, the seven chairs under the tree are evidence of daytime activities as everything that happened during the day consigned to history.
The artist adopts his standard aerial perspective in the painting, with the seven chairs arranged as if two dimensional objects, which establishes a sense of visual distance and emotional alienation. The contrast between the animals on the left and the chairs creates a powerful lonely sensation. At the same time, by looking down on the scene Su highlights the thick and enduring, ramrod straightness of the old tree, while the darker color of the lower part of the trunk points to its roots underground. In some respects, this reflects the artist’s own concern for society, deeply rooted in nature and history, and showcased in artistic form for posterity.

Price estimate:
HKD: 50,000 - 80,000
USD: 6,400 - 10,300

Auction Result:
HKD: 59,000