Artwork Description

Title: Flowers
Artist: Mo Xiong
Date: n.d.
Medium: Ink and watercolor on paper
Dimensions: 30.7 x 42.9 in (78 x 109 cm)

Artwork Identification
Rendered in translucent washes and dynamic brushwork, this floral still life by Mo Xiong features an exuberant bouquet set in a clear glass vase atop a green-checkered tablecloth. The explosion of blooms—rendered in soft corals, lavender, and verdant greens—spills outward from the composition’s core, with expressive ink splatters conveying motion and spontaneity. A delicate glass of amber liquid on the side quietly anchors the composition with domestic intimacy.

Artistic Style and Influences
This work highlights Mo Xiong’s fusion of Chinese brush-painting with the expressive looseness of Western watercolor traditions. His expert control of splattering and layering techniques imbues the piece with a sense of controlled chaos—an homage to both ink traditions and the improvisational spirit of European Impressionism and Abstract Expressionism.

Historical Context
Created in a post-reform China, this work reflects a moment when artists like Mo Xiong embraced hybrid identities in their practice. During this era, cross-cultural dialogue became a defining element in contemporary Chinese art, and this painting encapsulates that shift—melding tradition with experimentation.

Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

Condition and Conservation
The work is in very good condition. Paper edges remain intact and clean, and pigment saturation remains vibrant and stable.

Artistic Significance
This composition reveals Mo Xiong’s poetic sensibility—his ability to turn everyday table scenes into lyrical moments of vitality and reflection. The juxtaposition of delicate florals and an ephemeral glass of tea elevates the painting beyond still life, transforming it into a meditation on transience, beauty, and cultural fusion.