Oil on canvas

91 x 72.5 cm. 35 7/8 × 28 1/2 in.

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

In the Silent Spring Breeze
Dong Shaw-Hwei's Mental Landscape

"The still life on the table is like a mental landscape to me. It starts with a small pot of plants, in which lively and beautiful life is emerging. The elegant posture of the flowers and leaves touches my heart's desire for beauty... and thus becomes the beginning of a painting."
——Dong Shaw-Hwei

Born in 1962, Dong Shaw-Hwei graduated from the Institute of Fine Arts, National Taiwan Normal University. She has devoted herself to art for more than thirty years and has had more than twenty solo exhibitions both at home and abroad.

In her early studies of impressionist painting, she had a unique understanding of colour and light by Western modern artists. In the late 1990s, she began to try to integrate Chinese philosophy and developed her unique series of works. Poem of Wang Wei-Apricot (Lot 72) and A Reunion - Chrysanthemum presented (Lot 71) in this auction, were created in 2019 and 2011 respectively, demonstrate the artist's relentless artistic pursuit based on the theme of "Still Life of Black Table" spanning nearly ten years.

Spring Wind Blows Snow into Dust

In the Poem of Wang Wei-Apricot, which was put up for auction this time, the elegant and pure white apricot blossoms are the main character, depicting the plainness of cold early spring. On the slender branches, several apricot blossomed quietly, under the cover of green leaves, which accentuated their elegance. On the black table, Dong also portrays her iconic "half cup of tea". The half-full cup is crystal clear, carrying a reference to "not being complacent or arrogant" in life. On the left side of the painting is a poem by Wang Wei, a poet of the Tang Dynasty, echoing the quality of the white apricot blossoms in early spring -- not to show the splendour, but to be at ease with the world. The seemingly simple black table is composed of three objects: flowers, tea and poetry, fully demonstrating Dong's modest yet rich spiritual world.

Fragrant Chrysanthemum Blossom

In A Reunion - Chrysanthemum, which was completed in 2011, the artist uses full-blown pink chrysanthemums to show the beauty of life. With ten full-blown chrysanthemums swaying towards the sky, sharing a passion and independence quality. The illusion of a light source in the background gives a warm atmosphere to this painting. The rounded stamens and the square wooden table form a contrast in line. Dong explores the characteristics of the pink chrysanthemums, which are their passion for life as they blossom in a carefree way, instead of the traditional hermits quality.

Price estimate:
HKD 190,000 – 280,000
USD 24,400 – 35,900