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)

1. Artwork Identification
Rendered in Mo Xiong’s signature fusion of ink and watercolor, Flowers captures the jubilant essence of a floral arrangement brimming with chromatic brilliance. A porcelain vase anchors the bouquet, which bursts forth in an effervescent spray of golden yellow, coral, indigo, and emerald green. The composition is accented by stylized fruit and ceramic vessels in the foreground, including a violet-painted jar and clusters of yellow and red fruit, resting upon a rich ultramarine cloth. The interplay of vivid splatter, loose washes, and ornamental motifs imbues the scene with festive vitality and poetic charm.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Mo Xiong's visual language is a seamless blend of Chinese xuan paper tradition and expressive watercolor technique. In this work, he harnesses the luminosity of layered washes, the spontaneity of ink splatter, and the rhythmic abstraction of natural forms to construct a painting that is both technically assured and emotionally resonant. Echoes of Song and Ming ceramic motifs emerge subtly in the blue-and-white patterning, while the palette and gesture align with modernist experimentation, situating this work at a rich cultural crossroads.

3. Historical Context
Emerging from the fertile ground of Chinese art reform in the 1980s, Mo Xiong represents a generation of artists who re-engaged with individual expression after decades of aesthetic restraint. His education at Nanjing University of the Arts placed him within one of China’s most respected art institutions during a pivotal moment of global reconnection. This work reflects the spirit of cultural hybridity and renewed artistic confidence that characterized contemporary Chinese painting in the late 20th century.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The artwork is in very good condition. The paper is smooth and well-preserved, with no evidence of tears, foxing, or fading. The colors are bright and stable. No conservation treatment is currently required.

6. Artistic Significance
Mo Xiong’s influence spans both academic and professional spheres in the Chinese art world. His acclaimed still lifes marry the reverence of traditional aesthetics with the daring of personal vision. Flowers stands as a testament to his distinctive approach—at once joyous, meditative, and technically masterful. For collectors and scholars alike, this work encapsulates the enduring appeal of Mo Xiong’s East-West synthesis and his central place in China’s contemporary artistic landscape.