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Lot Essay
Traditionally, plum blossom, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum symbolise elegance, righteousness, and other high-minded attitudes. Peach blossom, on the other hand, is grounded with earthly desires. It is often associated passion and love in Chinese culture. In the ancient text Classic of Poetry, the verse “Peach blossom is blooming, the colours are burning bright” speaks of a consummate love. Tang Dynasty poet Cui Hu also described this beguiling sweetness in the phrase “the blush on her cheeks matches the colour of peach blossom”. During a trip to Longquan in 2005, Zhou Chunya serendipitously discovered the subject of peach blossom, and it has been a staple in his artistic output since. Although stylistically, works in this series are somewhat similar, their sincere verve for life is undeniable.
This work Buoyant Smile is compositionally unique: inspired by the view of the photography macro lens, the artist chose the flowers in the centre as the focal point. Although only small parts of the branch can be seen, the entirety of the tree is skilfully implied. The fine arrangement of the peach blossom thickets in the background completes the composition. The artist exaggerated the size of the flowers in the foreground to show that they are blossoming confidently without reservation at the tip of a branch. Although this feature interrupts the perspective of the view, its size contributes to overall proportion and the balance of the entire composition — the structure of the painting is thus strengthened. Yet, the sense of movement and dynamism is not lost. On the contrary, the vibrancy and vigour of the peach blossoms are highlighted by this treatment. Similar to Van Gogh’s Almond Blossom , it takes the vantage point of someone standing below looking up. This positions the azure sky as the background to complement the almond blossoms, and it awakens feelings of vitality in the viewers. Zhou Chunya renders the petals with pastel purple and pink, and he highlights them with a gentle white glow. This technique brings out the translucency and the texture of the petals, creating a lifelike illusion that they may sway in the breeze. The sky in the background, the thickets, and the ground form a triangular composition. This arrangement creates a focal point by framing the flowers in the middle. The depiction of the background showcases the artist’s mastery in the use of colours — the brown of the branches and earth contrasts with the green of the leaves as well as the pink of the petals. It is reminiscent of the visual language used in Monet’s Irises In Monet's Garden . The abstract brushwork is executed with a sense of unbridled energy, and the colours are rich with layers that can only be appreciated with repeated viewing. Yet, this treatment does not introduce chaos in the picture. On the contrary, the juxtaposition between the colours of the leaves and the flowers contributes to the vividness of the imageries.
Zhou Chunya’s works have always been based on self-awareness and a genuine concerned with the human condition. They are expressions of empathy that set free the human psyche. In an interview, Zhou Chunya explained the emotional dimension of the Peach Blossom series, “I travelled to the mountains to look at peach blossoms in spring. The entire hill was covered in pink, and the lasciviousness in the colours was palpable. I could feel the pulsating primal energy of life.” Although visually stimulating, the artist presents this spiritual subject matter with an aesthetic approach. The title of his work, Buoyant Smile , is borrowed from Teresa Teng’s song Peach Blossom Face , “Vivacious smile dances in the spring breeze”. The blooming peach blossoms on the canvas symbolise the reproductive power of spring. This work represents an eruption of life-force, it is also the artist’s expressions of passion and romance.
This work Buoyant Smile is compositionally unique: inspired by the view of the photography macro lens, the artist chose the flowers in the centre as the focal point. Although only small parts of the branch can be seen, the entirety of the tree is skilfully implied. The fine arrangement of the peach blossom thickets in the background completes the composition. The artist exaggerated the size of the flowers in the foreground to show that they are blossoming confidently without reservation at the tip of a branch. Although this feature interrupts the perspective of the view, its size contributes to overall proportion and the balance of the entire composition — the structure of the painting is thus strengthened. Yet, the sense of movement and dynamism is not lost. On the contrary, the vibrancy and vigour of the peach blossoms are highlighted by this treatment. Similar to Van Gogh’s Almond Blossom , it takes the vantage point of someone standing below looking up. This positions the azure sky as the background to complement the almond blossoms, and it awakens feelings of vitality in the viewers. Zhou Chunya renders the petals with pastel purple and pink, and he highlights them with a gentle white glow. This technique brings out the translucency and the texture of the petals, creating a lifelike illusion that they may sway in the breeze. The sky in the background, the thickets, and the ground form a triangular composition. This arrangement creates a focal point by framing the flowers in the middle. The depiction of the background showcases the artist’s mastery in the use of colours — the brown of the branches and earth contrasts with the green of the leaves as well as the pink of the petals. It is reminiscent of the visual language used in Monet’s Irises In Monet's Garden . The abstract brushwork is executed with a sense of unbridled energy, and the colours are rich with layers that can only be appreciated with repeated viewing. Yet, this treatment does not introduce chaos in the picture. On the contrary, the juxtaposition between the colours of the leaves and the flowers contributes to the vividness of the imageries.
Zhou Chunya’s works have always been based on self-awareness and a genuine concerned with the human condition. They are expressions of empathy that set free the human psyche. In an interview, Zhou Chunya explained the emotional dimension of the Peach Blossom series, “I travelled to the mountains to look at peach blossoms in spring. The entire hill was covered in pink, and the lasciviousness in the colours was palpable. I could feel the pulsating primal energy of life.” Although visually stimulating, the artist presents this spiritual subject matter with an aesthetic approach. The title of his work, Buoyant Smile , is borrowed from Teresa Teng’s song Peach Blossom Face , “Vivacious smile dances in the spring breeze”. The blooming peach blossoms on the canvas symbolise the reproductive power of spring. This work represents an eruption of life-force, it is also the artist’s expressions of passion and romance.