LI XIONGCAI (1910-2001)

A native of Guangdong, Li Xiongcai was passionate about art from a young age, as his father was a mounting specialist. At the age of 16 Li sought tutelage under Lingnan master Gao Jianfu, creating art under the vision "to absorb all elements of the East and West while merging old and new". Li believed that landscapes required the combined use of intellect and careful observation to express the magnificence of nature. By having a repository of images in our mind, one can observe the similarities and differences of nature in order to express them accurately on paper. This painting contains a gushing waterfall with lush pines as a reflection of Li's travels and observations. The painting is both restrained in manner yet bursting with life, dark and soft tones of ink bringing forth the spirit of nature.