Suzhou Houses

There is nothing more lyrical than the Suzhou houses, period. They blend poetically with the landscape like a Chinese painting, whether by the river ways and intertwining bridges, or along the ancient streets, sometimes whitewash, sometimes dated yet emanating an understated beauty beyond the crumbly walls. 

This was especially so along Pingjiang Street, running parallel along the river of the same namesake.  There are new shops and teahouses a-plenty with an endless bustle of yuppies, locals young and old, tourists of course, but somehow the charm of ancient Suzhou is retained with architectural delights surprising at every turn.  A little boat rows by on the canal, an old boatman with silver hair singing a familiar Chinese tune, yet so fitting to the atmosphere together with the photography shoots of young beautiful models in traditional costumes every 50 feet it seems. A happening place this is, as it must have been all those years ago in ancient Song Dynasty.  But the houses attract me the most, with many varied exquisite designs laid out in a haphazard yet harmonious manner along the narrow stone pathway, especially the silent ones on the opposite river bank with the quintessential black triangular roof lines elegantly sketching the skyline.  And that is what struck a chord in me most that resulted in this painting..
    

Title: Suzhou Houses 苏州屋 (O86)
Description: Houses by the Pingjiang River in Suzhou struck an emotional chord with the artist. China 2013.
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas.
Dimensions: 61 x 61cm.
Purchase at: yen.artfire.com