THE QUEST FOR BEAUTY: WORKS OF WU SHI-WEI
WU SHIH-WEI ONCE MENTIONED, "THE QUEST FOR BEAUTY IS THE QUEST OF MY LIFE."

Enlightenment through aesthetic appreciation of nature, has been one of the main pillars of Chinese art, from traditional arts to Wu Shih-wei's creations. The beauty of nature shares an appreciation of the mind and of life itself. Still life has been the subject of depiction for centuries in the East and the West. Plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo and chrysanthemums were praised as noble scholars, while peonies represent prosperity. Flowers become a connotation and a blessing. Yet, to Wu Shih-wei, such connotations stay on the surface of appreciation. A representation of nostalgic beauty is the key to Wu's erpretation.

Evening Blossom (Lot 632) shows a bouquet of colourful flowers in front of a white background, which balance the visual impact. A diagonal composition was used as flowers poured down from the upper left corner, occupying two third of the panel. A tiny transparent glass vase was used to enhance the heaviness at the top, creating a visual tension for the eye, thus enhancing the pleasure of the viewers.

Subtle changes and layering of colours filled the panel with surprises. Chrysanthemums in dark red form the basic tone of the painting. Darker tones of dried flowers initiate the nostalgic emotion, yet it brightens up again with the burgundy red table. With the detail-minded character of the artist, every minute detail is depicted through careful observations and delicate brushwork. Every state of blooms are depicted: some in full blooms,while some slightly collapse under gravity, bringing the painting to life.

Instead of capturing an instant, the painting shows flowers in the four seasons from blossoms in spring and summer, to their downfall in autumn and winter, through to their rebirth in spring. Such appreciation of the circle of life allows the artist to fill his studio with flowers of all kinds in all states of life, thus allowing him to observe flowers in their various forms. The artist's praises of life are thus reflected in his works. As the most satisfying and impactful painting to the artist, it was chosen to be put in the invitation card and the poster of the artist's exhibition.

To the artist, every minute object of nature could become the subject of his depiction. Such character allows him to paint the minutest subjects of nature. Fish Swimming in the Pond (Lot 631) depicted tiny fish with just a line with two dots. Yet a shoal of fish forms a majestic scenery scattering through the panel. Such clusters of lines highlight the characters of each fish, some grabbing their food, some nibbling algae, while some swimming with their friends. Amidst the topsy turvy scene, algae sway gently behind the fish, forming a relaxing background. Wu Shih-wei's design education background allows him to manipulate the subjects, compositions, structure and colours in a panel. Reeds by the Lake (Lot 630) depict a field of reeds in a horizontal structure. Bushes from the left extend to the right, demonstrating its horizontal depth. Such treatment gives hints to the multiple perspectives of Monet's Waterlilies, and the horizontal distance from a painting by Guo Xi of the Northern Song. Multiple perspectives bring the eye back to the bushes and colourful wild flowers. Contemporary author Chiang Hsun once praised the artist for his playful composition of lines, ink and multifarious colours. From its structure, ink and lines, Wu Shi-wei managed to balance its colours in a tranquil setting, making him one of the greatest artists in the contemporary art scene.