Artwork Description

Title:Strayed into Fairy Hill 1

Artist
Pan Guanqun

Date
2009

Medium:
Oil on canvas

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

1. Artwork Identification
In Strayed into Fairy Hill 1, Pan Guanqun presents a haunting maritime journey across an austere white expanse that evokes both snow and emptiness. A solitary sailboat, packed with indistinct figures, edges perilously along a black crevasse that cleaves the landscape, its trajectory unclear. A distant peak, faintly gilded by light, offers the only visual warmth in this otherwise stark scene.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Combining classical realism with surrealist composition, Pan creates a compelling visual narrative that taps into existential and spiritual themes. His painting style echoes the precision of academic oil painting while embracing the imaginative dislocations of surrealism, drawing subtle parallels with both Western metaphysical art and Chinese literati painting traditions.

3. Historical Context
Painted in 2009, this work belongs to Pan’s ongoing exploration of fantastical pilgrimages and liminal spaces. The Fairy Hill series invites reflections on dislocation, faith, and the unknown, set against the backdrop of contemporary China’s shifting cultural and spiritual landscape. It serves as an allegory for individuals navigating uncertainty in the search for meaning.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The artwork is in very good condition with no visible surface damage. The canvas remains taut, and the pigment layers are intact, showing no signs of cracking, fading, or restoration.

6. Artistic Significance
Strayed into Fairy Hill 1 is a powerful example of Pan Guanqun’s mastery in rendering metaphorical landscapes that invite psychological interpretation. The delicate balance between realism and abstraction amplifies the painting’s meditative and poetic resonance, making it a centerpiece of the artist’s philosophical oeuvre.