Artwork Description

Title: Flowers
Artist: Mo Xiong
Date: n.d.
Medium: Ink and watercolor on paper
Dimensions: 30.7 x 42.9 in (78 x 109 cm)

Artwork Identification
In this radiant still life, Mo Xiong arranges a wild bouquet in a tall teal-green vase that serves as the visual anchor. Blossoms in hues of violet, scarlet, and white burst from the center, encircled by soft cascades of green and cobalt foliage. The composition is balanced by a striped cloth and scattered fruits—apples, citrus, and cherries—that add domestic warmth and contrast to the ethereal, expressive botanical forms.

Artistic Style and Influences
This painting exemplifies Mo Xiong’s mastery in combining spontaneous, splash-like ink techniques with the discipline of traditional Chinese brushwork. Echoes of xieyi calligraphy coexist with gestural strokes and coloristic layering that recall Western modernist painters. The result is a painting that breathes vitality, characterized by movement, translucency, and chromatic complexity.

Historical Context
Created in the post-1980s era of Chinese artistic liberalization, this work reflects a broader cultural dialogue between Chinese heritage and global artistic vocabulary. As artists like Mo Xiong explored still life through a dual lens, their creations helped redefine Chinese contemporary painting in the international arena.

Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

Condition and Conservation
The artwork is in very good condition. The paper is stable with no tears or discoloration, and the colors are fresh and vibrant.

Artistic Significance
A tour-de-force of compositional fluidity and color harmony, this piece stands as a luminous testament to Mo Xiong’s continued innovation within the still life genre. It is emblematic of the artist’s ability to elevate everyday objects into lyrical expressions of cultural and aesthetic synthesis.