Artwork Description

Title:Baijia Lake Phoenix Square (South)

Artist
Wei Luning

Date
2016

Medium:
Oil on canvas

Dimensions
19.7 x 23.6 in (50 x 60 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
Baijia Lake Phoenix Square (South) (2016) by Wei Luning is a serene and atmospheric landscape, rendered in oil on canvas with an impressionistic touch. Depicting the tranquil surface of Baijia Lake, the composition captures the soft diffusion of light across the water, with verdant vegetation and misty architectural silhouettes lining the horizon. A subtle yet symbolic red phoenix structure can be seen in the upper right, providing a contemporary cultural anchor to the otherwise naturalistic view. The surface bears visible impasto brushwork, lending the scene tactile depth and movement.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Wei Luning’s painterly approach blends traditional Chinese landscape sensibilities with Western oil painting techniques. His palette of cool blues and soft greens reflects the literati tradition of poetic introspection, while his textural use of paint and compositional restraint draw from European Impressionism and postwar Chinese realism. This fusion of East and West, classical and modern, is a hallmark of Wei’s mature style. His landscapes do not merely document scenery but serve as contemplative reflections on temporality and urban transformation.

3. Historical Context
Painted in 2016, Baijia Lake Phoenix Square (South) reflects Wei’s ongoing engagement with China's rapidly changing urban environments. Located in Nanjing, Baijia Lake has become a symbol of the intersection between natural beauty and metropolitan development. The phoenix sculpture, perched subtly in the background, alludes to cultural rebirth amid modernization. As cities expand, Wei’s works capture what remains lyrical and elemental in the Chinese landscape—evoking a quiet resistance to the homogenizing forces of urbanization.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The artwork is in very good condition overall. There is a minor dent present in the upper right area of the canvas, visible upon close inspection but not disruptive to the visual composition. The paint layer is stable, and the canvas is structurally sound. No restorations have been undertaken.

6. Artistic Significance
Wei Luning is regarded as a refined voice in contemporary Chinese painting, particularly known for his sensitive treatment of water landscapes. Baijia Lake Phoenix Square (South) embodies his commitment to capturing fleeting, meditative moments within urban ecologies. This painting offers collectors a contemplative work by an artist who bridges tradition and modernity, nature and structure—offering both aesthetic richness and cultural resonance.