Oil on canvas

60×72 cm. 23 5/8×28 3/8 in.

Signed in Chinese and dated on bottom right; signed in Chinese and English, titled in Chinese and dated on the reverse
PROVENANCE
Longmen Art Projects, Shanghai Private Collection, Asia

Street Scene of the Small Town
The Nostalgic Charm of Hometown and Spring Impressions

Born into a prominent artistic family in 1936, Pang Jiun inherited a rich creative legacy. His father, Pang Xunqin, was a pioneering oil painter and founder of the Juelan Society, while his mother, Qiu Di, was a distinguished artist in early Repubic of China. Immersed in such an environment, Pang Jiun entered the Hangzhou National College of Art at just 13 years old. Throughout his six-decade career, he mastered the use of tonal gradients, seamlessly integrating the Eastern philosophy of "five shades of ink" into Western oil painting. His nuanced brushstrokes and harmonious palettes evoke profound depth, capturing the vibrancy of life and an irreplaceable sense of tranquillity.

Over nearly 80 years of artistic practice, Pang Jiun held more than 60 exhibitions globally and was recognised as one of the "World's Top 100 Artists" by Cambridge World Who's Who. His works are housed in prestigious collections, including the National Art Museum of China, the National Museum of China, the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, and the Museum of Mexico.

Traces of Time, Roots of the Soul

Pang Jiun's childhood in Shanghai and the Jiangnan region profoundly shaped his art. After relocating to Hong Kong and later Taiwan in 1980, he was unable to return to his hometown until 2000, with a more extended visit for a Jiangnan-themed plein air project in 2007. This sense of longing and belonging deeply influences his works, many of which focus on hometown scenes.

Completed in 2009, Street Scene of the Small Town (Lot 81) vividly captures a Jiangnan streetscape. The delicate composition features a grey-toned road in the foreground, bearing the marks of time. A black car, bicycle, and motorbike move leisurely along, juxtaposing the modern tempo of life with the tranquil charm of the small town. The road's grey tones echo the understated palette of the painting, creating a grounded and introspective atmosphere. Pang's restrained brushwork conveys the simplicity of hometown life, encapsulating the serenity of an era untouched by turmoil.

In the middle ground, a pink walkway glows with a subtle warmth, akin to the soft light of spring after winter. Tender green buds peek through, symbolising the quiet return of vitality. The background showcases rows of Jiangnan-style buildings, their white walls and grey rooftops harmonising with the pale grey sky. These enduring structures, witnesses to history, bridge the splendour of the past with the modernity of the present. Pang masterfully invites viewers to find profound meaning in ordinary scenes, evoking the passage of time and the comforting stability of life's rhythms.

Still Life of the Spring Rebirth of Vitality, Resonance of Green

"The flowers in Pang Jiun's works appear alive, their postures like a graceful dance, brimming with vitality."
—— Zeng Changsheng, art critic

Since the 1990s, Pang Jiun's artistic focus has increasingly shifted towards the expressive potential of colour. His still-life works often depict blooming flowers in jars and fruits in bowls. With bold, dynamic brushstrokes and a vibrant palette, Pang imbues his subjects with a rich sense of life. Neither as unrestrained as Fauvism nor confined by classical precision, his art achieves a balance of emotional intensity and restrained beauty, embodying the subtlety of Eastern aesthetics.

Still Life of the Spring (Lot 82) not only celebrates the vitality of spring but also inspires viewers to reflect on the beauty of life and the passage of time. Set against a serene pale blue background, the composition begins with grey stones in the foreground, grounding the painting with stability. Above them, a vivid arrangement of blue and red flowerpots overflows with vibrant yellow-green blossoms, their stems stretching skyward with rhythmic energy.

On the right, darker green branches exude resilience, their straight stems contrasting sharply with the curved broad leaves, creating a dynamic balance of motion and stillness. Pang doesn't merely depict the physical forms of flowers and foliage but captures their emotional essence through his expressive use of colour.

In the upper left corner, the negative space invites introspection, offering a moment of calm amidst the vitality. This openness evokes a sense of timeless serenity, allowing viewers to ponder the renewal of life. Through the interplay of growth and transformation in his depiction of spring, Pang Jiun captures both the fleeting beauty of the season and the enduring cycles of time and existence.

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