Not done with Shanghai yet as I discovered an old ink sketch I had done while strolling at the boulevard of the Bund last year, of the iconic Pudong skyscrapers view across the river.
So this painting is born, with colours, shapes and all, in impressionistic style as that was what struck me the most, of this distant surreal view of the financial district, especially the distinctive Oriental Pearl Tower (东方明珠塔) that gives a natural anchor to the landscape.
And the across-river distant view remains the nicest as actually being in Pudong itself was not that much fun for me, too modern or too futuristic, depending on how you look at it ;p I still prefer the historic buildings at the Bund, so Pudong will remain at that, abstract distant impressions :)
Title: Shanghai Pudong 上海浦东 (O102)
Description: Surreal impressionistic painting of Shanghai Pudong with expressive strokes, colours and shapes depicting the iconic city skyscrapers of the river landscape in abstract. China 2014.
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas.
Dimensions: 76 x 76cm.
Purchase at: yen.artfire.com
The one thing that charmed me the most when I visited Shanghai was how the Shanghainese simply love dancing. Be it in a park or a shopping street, they are impeccably dressed to the nines to do the beautiful steps of ballroom dancing, or boogie to whatever nifty moves the music plays.
Being borne stiff, I have to admit that, I always admire people who can dance. And how I love the fashion sense and elegance of the Shangainese. More than any city in China, they emanate the sophistication of what it means to appreciate, and live, the finer points of life. Come what may. Cultural revolution or not. The tenacity to keep the Shanghainese spirit - be it in the old buildings, the culinary, the culture, or the language - and an almost hard to miss innate disdain for uncouthness, the Shanghainese are just unique :)
While I am not a fan of the city's pollution, or the ultra-outlandish modern buildings which give new meaning to Humongous, I came to love the city for its very intact soul. And the old architecture, especially the old world charms of the iconic Shanghai Bund, not the pretenders across the bay.
I knew I would paint the elegant gentlemen and ladies at the park. And the Bund. So this piece is my tribute to the Shanghainese spirit, epitomised in these twin faves of mine.
Title: Shanghai Dance 上海舞 (O90)
Description: A whimsical expressionist painting celebrating the elegant and indefatigable spirit of the Shanghainese, especially their love of dancing and the beautiful architecture at the Bund, both of which charmed the artist immensely. China 2013.
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas with sides painted orche.
Dimensions: 76 x 76 x 4cm.
Purchase at: yen.artfire.com
Using an old canvas from a piece that didn't work out but which gives a green-tinged colorful underlayer perfect for my red theme, I created this piece in one sitting as everything just seemed to come together perfectly.
Tian Zi Fang is an arts and crafts enclave in the French Concession area of Shanghai, China. It is also my favourite place there, with a burgeoning arts and crafts enclave developed from a renovated residential area of traditional Shanghainese Shikumen (石库门) style buildings that is still teeming with everyday neighbourhood life, along with many small crafts shops, fancy eateries, trendy art studios, wires, pipes, lanterns sticking everywhere, but still amazingly coming together to give a unique eclectic buzz to the place. I love it ! As I painted away, combining quirky elements here and there from the bits and pieces of snapshots that I had taken including the black cat, it was like a re-living of my exploration of the narrow alleyways and quaint corners of Tian Zi Fang all over again.
The composition is not of an actual street but is a jigsaw puzzle of sorts, of my fond memories of the whimsical atmosphere of Tian Zi Fang. If you do visit as I did, you may spot an item or two of my painting there. Have fun exploring as I did :)
Title: Tian Zi Fang 田子坊 (O89)
Description: A colourful whimsical painting inspired by the lively streets of Tian Zi Fang, an arts and craft enclave developed from a residential area in the French Concession area of Shanghai. China 2013.
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas with sides painted magenta.
Dimensions: 76 x 76 x 4cm.
Purchase at: yen.artfire.com
Back to painting my favourite Suzhou classical garden, Cang Lang Ting (沧浪亭), which many say has a japanese zen feeling to the piece.
I simply love this place. Its meditative atmosphere emits an untouched hypnotic calm as the privileged few visiting its grounds find their own solitary interpretation and poetic encounters as they wander about exploring the many nooks and corners.
The combination of architecture with nature was perfect, from the lyrical to the whimsical. As with this corner that caught my eye. Interpret how you will the vertical lines as the beauty of this Suzhou classical garden is in the imagination and pondering that it invokes in the mind of the beholder.
Title: Suzhou Gardens 苏州园林 (O88)
Description: A painting of the poetic grounds of Cang Lang Ting (Surging Waves Pavilion), the artist's favourite Suzhou gardens and one of the famous China UNESCO classical gardens. China 2013.
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas.
Dimensions: 61 x 61cm.
Purchase at: yen.artfire.com
I first visited China as a kid and loved Hangzhou then. Pleasant place, an amazing acrobatic performance, and a beautiful lake.
So it was that on this trip to Shanghai, I had to go Hangzhou again, even for a few hours. Gilded childhood memories aside, must say I was taken aback by the mad circus at the train station, the crazy cab ride to the nearest part of the lake in order to maximise my visit, and oh lord, I think the whole of China is here!!
Thankfully, the lake is incredibly big, more than I ever remember. Incredibly, there is space for everyone. And incredibly lucky was I to find a quiet garden section which was so beautiful I was reminded of Giverny. And oh the time flew by as I explored the little surprises at every nook and corner. Rarely has the harmony of man and nature been more intricate than in this heavenly place, which is the very essence of zen. And thus the tribute of this painting.
Title: West Lake 西湖 (O87)
Description: A quiet corner at the beautiful West Lake captures my heart, as Hangzhou once did many years ago. China 2013.
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas.
Dimensions: 61 x 61cm.
SOLD.
2 comments:
doreen said...Your painting exudes the energy that is not found in the photo. Well done! Love your painting!
timi said... This painting is beautiful and unique in its execution. I LOVE It.
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
A lyrical place makes an inspiring one. Simply love the old streets in Suzhou, with beautiful whitewash houses in the ancient style and the interweaving poetic arching roofs, all coming together like a Chinese painting scene, much like ancient China coming alive before one's very eyes.
What mysterious abodes lie behind those carved doors? What stories go on behind those pretty windows? What inspired those stunningly beautiful classical gardens that Suzhou is famous for? What about the beautiful women that Suzhou is known for? What about the aspirations of modern day China? The tug between the historical and the new must have created much upheavals in the lives of the Suzhou people, even as these ancient buildings quietly watch by..
With these thoughts swirling, the painting was created. A tad muted in colour compared to my previous works, but that was the feeling that these streets gave to me.
Title: The Way Home 回 (O85)
Description: A poignant piece inspired by the poetic streets of Suzhou. China 2013.
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas.
Dimensions: 61 x 61cm.
SOLD.
I hadn't expected to be so "you gan jue" (i.e. moved) this trip to Shanghai to visit a friend. Especially as I do not recall being terribly impressed by Suzhou when I went as a kid on a family trip it seems a lifetime ago.
But touched me this place did. I am so glad my friend decided to bring me to Suzhou over the weekend and we happened to stay near this particular Suzhou classical garden. It was one of the famous UNESCO gardens albeit a quiet one located at a little river canal behind a serene hospital ground. Best of all untouched by the mad chaos of tourists who throng the larger gardens.
I was attracted by the beautiful name, Cang Lang Ting or Surging Waves Pavilion (沧浪亭). The garden was the epitome of zen, period. And creativity. With everything looking like they were haphazardly arranged yet strangely blending poetically, I was literally hypnotised as we explored the rooms, the mysterious nooks and corners, the way the buildings, structures, pathways, rocks, trees, plants, pond, and even a cave, interacted windingly in perfect harmony. Every window was different and led to yet another beautiful corner. My impression of classical systematical chinese design was completely turned on its head. I was reminded of the endless joy of exploring Gaudi's architecture once again. Yes, this is a gem of a place, which made my trip to Suzhou, and Shanghai, totally worth. Hence the tribute of this painting :)
Title: Cang Lang Ting 沧浪亭 (O83)
Description: A painting to record the artist's joy of visiting, and feelings for, Cang Lang Ting (Surging Waves Pavilion), one of China Suzhou's famous UNESCO classical gardens. China 2013.
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas.
Dimensions: 61 x 61cm.
SOLD.
