Artwork Description

Title:Strayed into Fairy Mountain 3

Artist
Pan Guanqun

Date
2008

Medium:
Oil on canvas

Dimensions
63 x 78 3/4 in (160 x 200 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
Strayed into Fairy Mountain 3 is a dreamlike, atmospheric oil painting by Pan Guanqun that depicts a small sailboat adrift on a surreal sea of clouds. The vessel, carrying a tightly grouped cluster of figures, appears to defy gravity as it glides above the horizon. A soft light illuminates the misty expanse, giving the entire composition a sense of mystical suspension.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Pan’s signature style—characterized by classical technique, surrealist staging, and meditative quietude—is evident here. The painting’s disciplined realism is enhanced by a poetic imagination, evoking influences ranging from Renaissance narrative painting to Chinese landscape traditions. The work draws upon the symbolic power of journey and exile, creating a scene both mythical and timeless.

3. Historical Context
Created in 2008, this work belongs to Pan Guanqun’s broader visual exploration of solitary travelers, mystics, and outcasts navigating spiritual or metaphysical terrain. In the context of post-2000s Chinese art, Strayed into Fairy Mountain 3 stands as a contemplative response to rapid change, evoking traditional allegory through a contemporary lens.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
There is a visible dent in the lower left area of the canvas. Aside from this minor imperfection, the artwork is in very good overall condition. The surface is clean and the pigments remain rich and stable, with no signs of fading or cracking.

6. Artistic Significance
This painting exemplifies Pan Guanqun’s capacity to blend technical mastery with deeply symbolic, poetic narratives. Strayed into Fairy Mountain 3 invites viewers to reflect on themes of displacement, transcendence, and the unknown, making it a significant and evocative work within the artist’s surrealist oeuvre.