Artwork Description

Title:Fishing VAT
Artist: Zhao Haitien
Date: Undated
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 59 × 118 cm (23.23 × 46.46 in)

1. Artwork Identification
Fishing VAT is an abstract oil painting by Zhao Haitien, executed on a horizontal canvas with an emphasis on rhythmic movement and layered textures. The composition uses bold, gestural strokes and a nuanced interplay of color harmonies to evoke a dynamic sense of energy, suggesting forms that allude to water, fishing vessels, or abstracted natural elements without direct representation.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
This work reflects the principles of modern abstract expressionism with subtle influences from Chinese ink traditions, evident in the fluid transitions and atmospheric layering. Zhao Haitien’s use of oil paint introduces a tactile depth and chromatic intensity uncommon in traditional ink practices, bridging Eastern aesthetics with Western abstraction.

3. Historical Context
Created in the context of contemporary Chinese abstraction, this piece embodies a period of exploration where artists negotiate cultural heritage within a global art discourse. While the Title: references fishing—a motif rooted in Chinese pastoral culture—the abstract rendering situates the work within a modern visual language that prioritizes mood and gesture over representational clarity.

4. Provenance and Authenticity
Please contact the gallery directly for full provenance information and certificates of authenticity.

5. Condition and Conservation
The work is in overall stable condition. The paint layer appears intact with no visible cracking or pigment loss. The canvas remains well-stretched and structurally sound. As with all oil paintings, maintaining controlled humidity and avoiding prolonged exposure to direct sunlight are recommended for preservation.

6. Artistic Significance
Fishing VAT occupies an important space in Zhao Haitien’s oeuvre as a synthesis of Eastern thematic sensibility and Western modernist abstraction. Its gestural vitality and restrained color palette underscore the artist’s pursuit of emotional depth and conceptual ambiguity, making it a compelling acquisition for collectors engaged with cross-cultural dialogues in contemporary abstraction.