About the Exhibition
When the tide recedes, elegance is revealed—Sanyu and His Art
In November 2019, Sanyu’s oil painting Five Nudes achieved an astonishing auction price of HKD 303.9 million. Sanyu, an artist who had spent most of his life in solitude, suddenly became the focus of widespread conversation. Along with renowned artists such as Xu Beihong, Lin Fengmian, and Pang Xunqin, he was part of a group that studied in France during the 1920s. This group played a pivotal role in bringing French artistic influences to 20th-century China, shaping the evolution of modern Chinese art. These artists navigated the tides of change in China, becoming prominent figures in the art world and leaving a lasting impact.
Sanyu never returned to China after 1949, despite his efforts to keep up with the trends of the art world. Throughout his life, Sanyu never gained significant market recognition or a prominent place in the grand narratives of art history. History is full of artists who remain unsung, with only a few making a significant impact. Sanyu was a free spirit, a "lone ranger". His rediscovery is largely due to the efforts of dedicated researchers who kept his legacy alive. It wasn't until 50 years after his death that Sanyu's works began to command remarkable prices, drawing parallels to the experiences of Van Gogh. Only after the tides of time have receded are artists like Sanyu, once buried in obscurity, finally recognized. This prompts us to question how art history is constructed. The art history we read today is inherently "short-sighted"; will the narratives written 100 or 200 years from now still resemble those of today?
The exhibition features 20 limited-edition prints of Sanyu’s oil paintings, focusing on themes of flowers, female figures, and animals. These works are categorized into four series based on their content: Blooming Flowers, Serenity, Elegance, and Fairy Tale.
Though Sanyu has passed away, his art has begun to shine, reminding us that art is one of the most beautiful things in life. I hope that this exhibition will provide a deeper understanding of Sanyu, his art, and his life. I would like to extend my gratitude to the Cultural Foundations of Zhendai He USA for organizing this exhibition and to the Be An Culture LLC for their efforts in making this event a success. May the exhibition be a resounding success.
Xiangdong Shi
Independent Researcher, PhD in Fine Arts
11/o6/2024-o1/19/2025 Wednesday - Sunday, 11:00-18:00
2492-2494 Huntington Drive, San Marino, CA 911o8
The "Blooming Flowers" series, the largest of Sanyu’s works, is characterized by his typical style. Horizontal compositions are expansive and graceful, while vertical ones are twisted and coiled, sometimes featuring a solitary oriole perched among flowers, conveying the artist's unique visual language. Two Song Dynasty embroideries from the National Palace Museum in Taipei display floral compositions closely resembling Sanyu’s vertical flower arrangements.
Blooming Flowers
Serenity
Two lotus paintings and a bamboo piece from the exhibition belong to the "Serenity" series, drawing inspiration from traditional Chinese poetic imagery. Bamboo symbolizes integrity, while lotus represents purity. We can also explore the similarities and differences between Sanyu’s "Vigorous Bamboo" and "Serene Lotus" and traditional Chinese art. The lines in these works do not evoke traditional Chinese brushwork; instead, they resemble spaghetti, outlined in black and reflecting a modernist aesthetic.
Elegance
Sanyu’s depictions of female figures radiate "Elegance," characterized by simple forms and sparse black outlines that highlight his keen observation of female beauty. This distinctive style has earned him the moniker "Oriental Matisse," though I believe his lines are more distinctive. The backgrounds of his figure paintings are often light-colored, reminiscent of the tones of Xuan paper, reflecting the Chinese aesthetic of leaving spaces blank. Renaissance master Giorgione had a profound influence on Western figure painting. The connection to his masterpiece Sleeping Venus can be seen in works ranging from Ingres’ neoclassical La Grande Odalisque to the nude paintings of modernists like Matisse and Picasso. Sanyu’s portrayals of the human form were similarly shaped by these varied artistic styles.
Fairy Tale
In Sanyu’s paintings, a rolling cat or fluttering butterflies frequently add a lively element to the scenes. Some works depict just two white horses or three zebras in motion, conveying a sense of playful innocence. The expansive backgrounds highlight the stark, empty reality of the universe. The National Palace Museum in Taipei houses Eight Horses and One Hundred Horses by Giuseppe Castiglione (Lang Shining), an Italian painter of the Qing Dynasty. While the horse postures in these pieces bear a strong resemblance to those in Sanyu’s works, they each convey a distinct essence.