Ink and colour on silk (A, B) Charcoal, Ink and colour on silk (C)

27 × 22.5 cm. 10 5/8 × 8 7/8 in. (A); 24.5 × 21 cm. 9 5/8 × 8 1/4 in. (B); 46 × 55 cm. 18 1/8 × 21 5/8 in. (C)

A: Inscribed in Chinese, signed in pinyin with an artist's stamp on bottom right
B: Signed in pinyin on bottom left, inscribed in Chinese with an artist's stamp on bottom right
C: Signed in pinyin on bottom left, inscribed in Chinese with an artist's stamp on upper right
PROVENANCE
Private Collection, France
Private Collection, Asia

The Devoted Offerings of a Follower of Arts
The Vestiges of Liao Xinxue's Artistry during His Voyage to France

Liao Xinxue was an expert in illustration and sculpture. He was born in an underprivileged family and was orphaned at a young age. To support himself, he had to do laborious work for his neighbor, which he herded cattle. Despite being immersed in highly physical activities, Liao had developed a passion for the fine arts and such enthusiasm was buried in him like a seed that was gradually sprouting.

In 1933, Liao was awarded a public scholarship from the Yunnan government to obtain his art education in France. Referred by Xu Beihong, he trained under the renowned sculptor Jean Boucher's workshop. During the same year, Liao was admitted into the Institute of Sculpture at The École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts– an elite institution of arts education in France. He was acknowledged as “the virtuoso among Chinese artists”. After his return to China in 1984, Liao actively advocated and promoted contemporary fine arts education in Yunnan City. The successes of his efforts were radical.

Authentic Sentiments, Lively Atmosphere

Flower and Bird, Vased Flower, and Scenery (set of three pieces) is the perfect exemplar of Liao's comprehensive style. The work is created with Chinese ink and charcoal crayon. Though the media employed are unconventional, the theme, composition, and even the colour palette are nonetheless traditional, as they reveal long-established Chinese aura and sentiments.

In Flower and Bird, three plump birds stood on the branches of blossoming flowers, their liveliness depicting the atmosphere of spring.

In Scenery, dense towering trees are situated on the left side of the painting with bushes in front that are embellished with red soils. Not only does the red colour add vitality to the bushes and the trees, it also creates stark contrasts between the boat and the mountains from afar, effectively emulating the style of the famous Chinese painter of Qing dynasty, Shitao.

In Vased Flower, a bouquet of dark and light scarlet peony flowers are arranged in a round porcelain vase. The vase features two soaring cranes. Flying gracefully across the sky, the cranes represent Liao's nostalgia for his hometown. The work incorporates both Chinese and Western artistic approaches and is truly a rare, precious vestige of Liao's days in France.

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

Auction Result:
HKD: 81,600