Artwork Description

Title: Flowers and Birds
Artist: Mo Xiong
Date: n.d.
Medium: Ink and watercolor on paper
Dimensions: 26.8 x 53.5 in (68 x 136 cm)

Artwork Identification
Rendered in ink and watercolor on paper, Flowers and Birds by Mo Xiong presents a vivid, dreamlike composition where blossoms and foliage surge upward in an ecstatic fusion of pigment and brushwork. Central to the piece, a single bird perches serenely among a symphony of flowering branches. The chromatic palette, dominated by electric pinks, deep reds, and bursts of white and green, stands out against a fluid, multicolored background that glows with atmospheric depth.

Artistic Style and Influences
Mo Xiong’s visual language is an elegant hybrid—merging the spontaneous brushstroke and symbolism of Chinese painting with the chromatic energy and abstraction of Western modernist art. The dynamic composition, use of splattered pigment, and semi-abstract rendering of flora echo the influence of Post-Impressionism and Abstract Expressionism, while the central bird and rock formations remain faithful to traditional Chinese subject matter and symbolic intent.

Historical Context
This work belongs to a broader tradition of Chinese literati painting, reinterpreted through the lens of 21st-century visual culture. Created in an era of cross-cultural exchange and aesthetic experimentation, Flowers and Birds embodies the post-reform Chinese art movement, where artists like Mo Xiong bridged historical continuity with international influences to forge a new artistic identity.

Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

Condition and Conservation
The artwork is in very good condition. Pigments are vivid and stable, with no signs of fading, foxing, or water damage. Minor creasing, typical of works on paper, does not affect the visual integrity of the composition.

Artistic Significance
As both a leading practitioner and educator, Mo Xiong occupies a central role in the evolution of contemporary Chinese painting. His Flowers and Birds paintings resonate with collectors and scholars for their ability to convey harmony between man and nature, tradition and innovation. This work not only reflects the artist’s technical virtuosity but also affirms his contribution to redefining Chinese ink painting in the modern era.