Artwork Description

Title: Rain Lotus Pond
Artist: Mo Xiong
Date: n.d.
Medium: Ink and watercolor on paper
Dimensions: 35 x 25.6 in (89 x 65 cm)

Artwork Identification
In Rain Lotus Pond, Mo Xiong conjures a dreamlike nocturnal scene, where a pair of mandarin ducks glide amid lotus blossoms and shadows. Rendered in ink and watercolor on paper, the composition bursts with electric blues, emerald greens, and luminous reds, creating a sensorial immersion in this watery, rain-soaked sanctuary. Speckled droplets across the surface emulate falling rain, while the glowing halo around the ducks draws the viewer’s gaze inward, evoking themes of harmony and fidelity.

Artistic Style and Influences
Mo Xiong’s signature blend of traditional Chinese symbolism and expressive Western brushwork is at the heart of this piece. The mandarin duck—an age-old emblem of marital devotion in Chinese art—is delicately modeled against a dynamic and abstract background. The artist’s use of Western-influenced spatial perspective and gestural color fields breathes contemporary vitality into the age-old subject of lotus ponds and avian pairs.

Historical Context
This work finds resonance within the broader revitalization of literati painting in modern China. By channeling ancient symbolic themes through a modern, expressive lens, Mo Xiong contributes to the evolving narrative of Chinese ink art. His focus on fauna and flora within a transformed visual language embodies the tension and unity between preservation and innovation in post-reform Chinese aesthetics.

Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

Condition and Conservation
The artwork is in very good condition. There is no apparent pigment loss or paper distortion. Minor specks consistent with the artist’s technique are part of the composition and do not represent damage.

Artistic Significance
Rain Lotus Pond exemplifies Mo Xiong’s mastery of symbolic storytelling through layered brushwork and color theory. His ability to merge technical finesse with poetic imagination positions this work as both culturally rooted and universally resonant. It is a fine testament to Mo Xiong’s enduring relevance within the canon of contemporary Chinese painting.