Artwork Appreciation - Animal
Hawk
In Chinese art, the eagle is a powerful emblem of strength, courage, and resilience. Its soaring flight across the skies embodies a majestic spirit. Historically, the eagle symbolized a martial and valiant character, integral to hunting traditions. It was a formidable ally to hunters, capable of capturing prey larger than itself, such as swans and foxes…
Today marks the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the "Festival of Reunion," a time to admire the full moon symbolizing unity. Traditional customs include eating mooncakes, appreciating the moon, admiring osmanthus flowers, and solving lantern riddles. In this festive spirit, let us enjoy Chung Chen Sun’s 2013 Chinese ink painting, Harmony…
Harmony
Today is the Spring Equinox, one of the 24 solar terms, marking the arrival of bright spring in much of China, excluding the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Northeast, and Northwest regions. In celebration, let us admire Chung Chen Sun’s ink painting, Chickens After Rain. ，。。。
Chicken After Rainfall
In an era defined by globalization, unity and cooperation among nations have become an irreversible trend. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) exemplifies this spirit, achieving harmony and shared prosperity among its member states. Reflecting these ideals, Chung Chen Sun’s painting A Pond of Ten Egrets United uses the communal life of egrets as a metaphor for ASEAN’s vision of collaboration. Let us delve into the artistic and symbolic dimensions of this work to uncover its cultural implications and its resonance with viewers…
Ten Herons
The dragon, a timeless symbol of Chinese culture, embodies centuries of cultural heritage and spiritual identity. With his exceptional ink-and-wash technique and profound cultural insight, Chung Chen Sun created the masterpiece Emerging From The Darkness, offering a feast for the eyes and soul in celebration of the Year of the Dragon…
Emerging From The Darkness
In Chinese art history, the theme of the tiger has appeared as early as four millennia ago, seen in artifacts like human-shaped pottery with tiger patterns and tiger motifs in bronze from ancient dynasties. However, due to limited knowledge of tigers in pre-industrial times, artists often depicted them based on legends and imaginative interpretations rather than direct observation. This resulted in highly stylized and symbolic representations of tigers.
Ink Tiger
Lunar New Year's Eve, a cherished traditional festival of the Chinese people, marks the final day of the lunar calendar year and the night before the Spring Festival. Commonly referred to as "Year's Thirty" or "Great Year Thirty," it is steeped in rich traditions. As recorded in Meng Liang Lu, “On the final day of the twelfth month, referred to as ‘the day of the year's end,’ households, regardless of size, clean their premises, replace door gods, hang images of Zhong Kui, affix peachwood charms, and honor ancestors with offerings.” …
Year of The Tiger
