Artwork Description

Title: Residual Lotus and Fragrance
Artist: Wei Luning
Date: 2016
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 15.7 x 11.8 in (40 x 30 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
Residual Lotus and Fragrance is an evocative oil painting by contemporary Chinese artist Wei Luning. The composition captures the elegant remains of lotus stems and blossoms suspended above still water, rendered in gestural brushwork and muted tones. The interplay of texture and vertical motion creates a poetic dialogue between decay and serenity, typical of the artist’s meditative approach.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Wei Luning’s style is grounded in the fusion of classical Chinese sensibilities and contemporary painterly techniques. Drawing inspiration from Song Dynasty aesthetics and literati painting traditions, he translates natural subjects—particularly lotus ponds—into modern contemplative studies. In this work, the textured impasto and expressive abstraction evoke a sense of quietude and introspection, reminiscent of the emotional clarity found in both Chinese ink painting and European lyrical abstraction.

3. Historical Context
Born in 1952, Wei Luning developed his career amid the cultural shifts of late 20th-century China. As a painter, he emerged during a period that sought to reconcile tradition with modernity. His signature lotus motifs—symbols of purity and endurance in Chinese culture—reflect a post-Cultural Revolution return to nature and introspective themes, often serving as metaphors for resilience and inner peace.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The artwork is in very good condition. The paint layer is stable with no evidence of damage or loss. Surface textures are well preserved, and the canvas remains taut and professionally framed.

6. Artistic Significance
Wei Luning’s work is highly regarded for its ability to bridge the cultural and artistic heritage of China with modern expressive forms. Residual Lotus and Fragrance exemplifies his mastery of atmospheric space and symbolic narrative, using minimalism and abstraction to evoke themes of time, memory, and renewal. The piece is a strong representation of the artist’s philosophical and painterly concerns, and an elegant addition to any contemporary Asian art collection.