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Lot Essay
Li Shih Ciao has experienced the changes in style from Realism to Cubism, Expressionism, Abstract expressionism and Surrealism during his 70-year art career, and returned to Realism from abstract art after 1970s. Roses (Lot 1128) in1989 reveals the theme of still life in figurative style, yet without his previously more unyielding, rigid contours. Thinner application of paint is the feature of his work in the later period, during which he deliberately left the grain of the unprimed canvas visible. The dry and light brushstrokes show that the artist was freed and relaxed when he painted in his late years.
Li once said, "I plant what I paint which makes it feel distinctively different." Rose, one of his favorite themes, is always the typical subject in his still-life. In Roses Li constructed a well-balanced composition, which shows the solid academic training the artist received in early years. As he inclined to exploring abstract forms, the Realist pursuit of mimicking the representational world was no longer his focus. The circle of the scattered fruits on the table, the cylinder of the cup and the cone of the vase convey the artist's intention to restructure the elements and forms he saw and re-interpret them. Meanwhile, the design of the vase, table cloth, cup and wallpaper show his interest in simplifying the objects into patterns. The colorful Roses brings a riot of vibrant colors, altogether with the vase, the oranges, the table cloth and the wallpaper. It creates a strong visual impact on the viewers. Through Li's subjective selection and rearrangement of forms and different elements, Roses is no longer simply a figurative depiction. He brings depth to the painting via three-dimensional narration but it has shown his intent of flattening the image. The simplified, geometrically shaped figures on the table reveal his investigation into the intrinsic essence of the objects. The patterns have been reduced to a pure interpretation of lines and forms. Every detail of the patterns is composed of points, lines and planes which can be reflected as Li's perceptions towards space. All forms and elements in this work are closely interrelated, demonstrating Li's achievement in exploring colors and forms for decades.
Li once said, "I plant what I paint which makes it feel distinctively different." Rose, one of his favorite themes, is always the typical subject in his still-life. In Roses Li constructed a well-balanced composition, which shows the solid academic training the artist received in early years. As he inclined to exploring abstract forms, the Realist pursuit of mimicking the representational world was no longer his focus. The circle of the scattered fruits on the table, the cylinder of the cup and the cone of the vase convey the artist's intention to restructure the elements and forms he saw and re-interpret them. Meanwhile, the design of the vase, table cloth, cup and wallpaper show his interest in simplifying the objects into patterns. The colorful Roses brings a riot of vibrant colors, altogether with the vase, the oranges, the table cloth and the wallpaper. It creates a strong visual impact on the viewers. Through Li's subjective selection and rearrangement of forms and different elements, Roses is no longer simply a figurative depiction. He brings depth to the painting via three-dimensional narration but it has shown his intent of flattening the image. The simplified, geometrically shaped figures on the table reveal his investigation into the intrinsic essence of the objects. The patterns have been reduced to a pure interpretation of lines and forms. Every detail of the patterns is composed of points, lines and planes which can be reflected as Li's perceptions towards space. All forms and elements in this work are closely interrelated, demonstrating Li's achievement in exploring colors and forms for decades.