Artwork Description

Title: Vase
Artist: Mo Xiong
Date: n.d.
Medium: Ink and watercolor on paper
Dimensions: 54.3 x 27.2 in (138 x 69 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
This exuberant ink and watercolor composition by Mo Xiong, Title:d Vase, captures an abundant arrangement of florals and fruit with striking chromatic richness. Executed on paper with sweeping verticality, the scene features two tall vases bursting with foliage, blossoms, and rhythmic specks of pigment. At the base, a still life of lychee fruit on a shallow plate complements the floral energy above. The artist’s loose brushwork, dynamic splattering, and bold contrasts imbue the piece with vitality and textural complexity.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Mo Xiong is celebrated for his expressive fusion of traditional Chinese brush painting with contemporary techniques. This work continues his distinctive approach—drawing upon literati traditions while embracing bold color fields and gestural abstraction. The floral motif recalls classical Chinese painting, yet the compositional exuberance and saturation echo elements of Fauvism and Modernist still life. The interplay of natural imagery with layered chromatic fields underscores Mo’s intuitive visual language.

3. Historical Context
Created in a period of growing global interest in Chinese contemporary art, Vase reflects Mo Xiong’s mature practice amid the cultural dialogue between East and West. Mo, active since the post-Mao artistic renaissance, has been part of a generation of artists redefining Chinese aesthetics through experimental media and individualized interpretation. This painting bridges traditional iconography with modern dynamism, offering a window into the hybrid sensibilities of 21st-century Chinese painting.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The work is in very good condition. Faint creasing is visible on the paper, likely due to earlier storage, though it does not detract from the vibrancy of the composition. The pigments remain fresh and intense, with no signs of fading, discoloration, or foxing. No restoration is evident.

6. Artistic Significance
Mo Xiong's works have garnered increasing recognition in the international auction market, with sales reaching up to $45,126 USD—most notably at China Guardian Auctions in Beijing. His versatility and innovative reinterpretation of classical motifs have earned him a prominent place among China’s leading contemporary painters. Vase exemplifies the artist’s command of material and subject, blending lyrical brushwork with contemporary exuberance to create a compelling and collectible artwork.