Artwork Description

Title:Venus of Taihu Lake

Artist
Sun Guanghua

Date
n.d.

Medium:
Watercolor and pen on paper

Dimensions
31.5 x 15.7 in (80 x 40 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
Venus of Taihu Lake is a delicately executed watercolor and pen drawing by Chinese artist Sun Guanghua, measuring 80 x 40 cm. The piece portrays an abstracted, eroded stone form evocative of both classical statuary and naturally weathered rock — a lyrical fusion of human form and geological structure. The central figure stands silhouetted against a wash of verdant green, its porous, organic shape suggesting both sensuality and the timeless passage of natural forces. The work is presented under glass in a light wood frame. It remains in very good condition.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Sun Guanghua’s approach in this work is marked by a refined sensitivity to line and texture, blending classical motifs with Chinese literati traditions and contemporary abstraction. The “Venus” of the Title: recalls the Greco-Roman archetype of feminine beauty, yet here it is refracted through the aesthetic language of Taihu stones — prized in Chinese garden design for their dramatic perforations and natural elegance. This dialogue between East and West, between the man-made and the natural, is central to the artist’s stylistic inquiry.

3. Historical Context
Born in 1962, Sun Guanghua belongs to a generation of Chinese artists who matured in the years following the Cultural Revolution, during a period of intense reflection and cultural rediscovery. His artistic vocabulary bridges traditional Chinese artistic values with a renewed interest in materiality and form. Taihu stones, long revered in classical Chinese art and philosophy as symbols of harmony, emptiness, and transformation, are here reimagined with a distinctly modern sensibility and infused with cross-cultural significance.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The work is in very good condition. There is no visible discoloration, foxing, or paper warping. The Medium: remains vibrant and well-preserved under glazing. The frame is clean and structurally sound, and the overall presentation is suitable for immediate display or archival storage.

6. Artistic Significance
Venus of Taihu Lake exemplifies Sun Guanghua’s poetic exploration of material symbolism and cultural hybridity. By merging classical Western iconography with the philosophical depth of Chinese rock culture, the artist invites a contemplative experience that transcends geographical boundaries. His use of subtle mark-making and atmospheric washes underscores a mastery of both Western and Eastern techniques, reinforcing his position as a thoughtful and nuanced voice within contemporary Chinese art.