Artwork Description

Title: A New Day, the Autumn Water is Silent
Artist: Huijun Gao
Date: 2005
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Dimensions: 55.1 x 35.4 in (140 x 90 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
Rendered in soft monochromes, A New Day, the Autumn Water is Silent is a meditative acrylic painting by Chinese contemporary artist Huijun Gao. Measuring 140 x 90 cm, the work depicts a quiet river landscape under a vast sky dominated by a luminous full moon. The sinuous, leafless trees and low-lying islets are articulated with a lyrical delicacy, bridging traditional Chinese ink painting aesthetics with the material richness of acrylic on canvas.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Gao's work exhibits a distinctive synthesis of classical Chinese landscape traditions and contemporary painterly sensibilities. His style recalls Song Dynasty shan shui (mountain-water) painting, yet diverges in medium and atmospheric abstraction. Rather than emulating motifs, Gao internalizes the poetic structure of classical painting—its cadence, voids, and lyricism—transmuting it into a personal, introspective visual language.

3. Historical Context
Created in 2005, this work reflects a moment in Chinese contemporary art when introspective, non-confrontational approaches offered a counterbalance to the politically charged or Pop-inflected movements of the time. Gao, working from his studio in Songzhuang, Beijing—a known hub for independent artistic production—employs timeless themes of solitude, nature, and transience. His landscapes resist overt commentary, instead offering viewers a deeply contemplative space akin to traditional literati painting.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The painting is in very good condition. The acrylic surface is intact and stable with no evidence of cracking, flaking, or discoloration. The work appears to be well-preserved and requires no immediate conservation treatment.

6. Artistic Significance
A New Day, the Autumn Water is Silent exemplifies Gao Huijun’s unique position in Chinese contemporary art—deeply rooted in tradition yet uncompromised by revivalist nostalgia. His ability to channel inner sentiment through natural forms and subdued palettes positions him among the most poetic voices in the current generation. This piece, like many of his works, offers a sanctuary for stillness and reflection—a visual haiku for the soul.