Artwork Description

Title: Flowers
Artist: Mo Xiong
Date: n.d.
Medium: Ink and watercolor on paper
Dimensions: 50 pieces, each 27.6 × 53.1 in (70 × 135 cm)

Artwork Identification:
This vivid series of 50 paintings, Flowers, exemplifies Mo Xiong’s masterful integration of expressive brushwork, bold coloration, and contemporary flair. Each work features an exuberant bouquet of flowers in a vibrant vase, rendered in ink and watercolor on paper. The spontaneous splashes and controlled brushstrokes merge traditional Chinese techniques with modern expressionism.

Artistic Style and Influences:
Mo Xiong’s floral compositions echo the spontaneity and rhythmic brushwork of Xieyi painting while embracing the chromatic dynamism of contemporary art. The layered pigment, contrasting backgrounds, and intuitive composition suggest influences ranging from Chinese literati painting to Western abstraction and Fauvism. Despite the explosion of color, each composition retains a meditative balance.

Historical Context:
Born in 1960, Mo Xiong belongs to a generation of Chinese artists who bridge the gap between post-Cultural Revolution academic formalism and international contemporary art movements. His floral series reflects the post-1980s shift in Chinese ink painting, as artists began to explore new narratives and formal freedoms while maintaining deep connections to traditional iconography and brushwork.

Provenance:
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

Condition and Conservation:
All ten works are in very good condition, exhibiting stable pigments and well-preserved paper surfaces. No restoration or conservation treatments are noted.

Artistic Significance:
This series stands as a significant representation of Mo Xiong’s unique voice in the contemporary Chinese art landscape. His energetic depictions of still life transcend decorative purpose, transforming each bouquet into a symphony of color and form. Flowers would appeal to collectors of both modern Chinese ink art and international contemporary painting, offering both aesthetic joy and cultural resonance.