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Lot Essay
With their distinctive cries, magpies are traditionally regarded as bearers of good news and fortune.
Xu's emphasis in realism allowed him to inject the birds with energy and personality - in Spring Delights, each magpie has its distinctive characteristics, appearing lively in a naturalistic fashion, upon a backdrop of spring blossoms. Utilizing a combination of traditional xieyi brushwork with his real life studies of the natural world, Xu is able to convey the inner totality of the living creature with a carefree and soft touch. Another distinctive element which displays Xu's brilliance in pictorial skills is his ingenious use of space in composing a piece hinting to the viewer of the immense, expansive space, beyond the confines of the painting. The artist's application of brushstrokes and his use of pale colours create a luminous backdrop, resulting in a heralding of spring through a fusion of western teachings and traditional Chinese spirituality.
Xu's emphasis in realism allowed him to inject the birds with energy and personality - in Spring Delights, each magpie has its distinctive characteristics, appearing lively in a naturalistic fashion, upon a backdrop of spring blossoms. Utilizing a combination of traditional xieyi brushwork with his real life studies of the natural world, Xu is able to convey the inner totality of the living creature with a carefree and soft touch. Another distinctive element which displays Xu's brilliance in pictorial skills is his ingenious use of space in composing a piece hinting to the viewer of the immense, expansive space, beyond the confines of the painting. The artist's application of brushstrokes and his use of pale colours create a luminous backdrop, resulting in a heralding of spring through a fusion of western teachings and traditional Chinese spirituality.