Ink and colour on cloud-dragon paper

84.5 × 78.4 cm. 33 1/4 × 30 7/8 in.

Stamped with two artist's seals on right centre and lower centre
PROVENANCE
Rasti Chinese Art, Hong Kong
Acquired directly by present private Asian collector from the above

Note: A titleslip inscribed by the artist with a seal is affixed on the scroll

Mythical Ink: Immersed in the Moment
The Oriental Aesthetics of the Master of the Water, Pine and Stone Retreat

"Every time I paint, I step into uncharted territory, an infinite realm of unexplored potential. Every new work is like stepping into the unknown, and I am excited to follow wherever it leads. It is a unique exercise in discovery in understanding the self as well as the world."
——The Master of the Water, Pine and Stone Retreat

Born in 1943, the Master of the Water, Pine, and Stone Retreat, originally named Hugh Moss, is a British Jew, renowned as an antique collector. His father ran an antique shop in London. From a young age, he immersed himself in the world of Oriental art and antiques, cultivating an extraordinary taste. Starting in 1979, he dabbled in ink painting in his spare time. Over the next decade, he represented emerging ink artists such as Liu Dan, Liu Guosong, and He Huaishuo. Through this experience, he developed his unique style. His works are rich in meaning, conveying his artistic insights while paying tribute to Chinese traditional culture. Since 1990, he has held numerous exhibitions in Hong Kong, New York, Shanghai, etc., earning the appreciation of many literati and art connoisseurs.

Lingzhi Fairy was created in 2015. The artist wrote the English inscriptions in a unique calligraphic style, describing a legend he had heard about Lingzhi. The story tells of a Realized Man who had transcended the dusty world by through a steady diet of Lingzhi and Daoism. He carried with a magical pearl obtained from an alchemist, hoping that one day, he could attract the mythical beasts by igniting the pearl. However, his wish was never fulfilled. The artist reflects on how even those who seek spiritual enlightenment are not immune to desire and attachment. In the painting, he meticulously outlines the contours of Lingzhi using meticulous line drawing techniques, rendering the texture like that of Taihu stones. "Folds, leaks, slimness, and transparency" are intricately intertwined to form the Lingzhi stalk and cap. In this painting, the artist combines Lingzhi with his beloved stones, and the red pendant at the base is the finishing touch. The pendant connects bright white pearls that grow amidst branches, corresponding to the story written on the left, guiding the viewer into a realm of profound imagination. As Li Keran once said, "The artistic realm is the soul of art, a concentrated essence of objective things combined with the molding of human thoughts and emotions. " In the work, the stone-patterned Lingzhi, patterned paper, and "calligraphy in English" complement each other. The English inscriptions, combining cursive and running script, and the interplay of abstract and concrete imagery, create a distinctive style both in technique and depth of meaning.

Price estimate:
HKD 40,000 – 60,000
USD 5,100 – 7,700

Auction Result:
HKD: 48,000