Zhou Chunya

signed in Pinyin and Chinese and dated 2006

Zhou Chunya, Sichuan Fine Art Publishing House, 2007, cover

minor rubbing at top right and bottom left corner, otherwise generally in good condition
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NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

One of China's most celebrated contemporary artists, Zhou Chunya has continuously found new ways of reinventing his captivating, expressive style. An explosive symphony of color and emotion, Zhou's oeuvre combines, most elegantly, the technical control and achievement of traditional Chinese painting with the freedom of movement native to German Neo-Expressionism. However, his latest series, which portrays the beautiful peach blossom flower as the subject, demonstrates emotions and sensations of a more overtly sexual nature. These works were also recently included in the Shanghai Art Museum's major retrospective of Zhou's works in June of this year. Sotheby's is very pleased to offer Blooming Love (Lot 656) in our autumn theme sale this October.

Watching these beautiful, vibrant flowers bloom in the spring, Zhou was moved by, as he recalls, their 'flirtatious' nature. For him, the peach blossom conveys the primitive desire of human beings as well as the fundamental theme of 'sex and emotion.' This theme manifests in the vivid hues of pink, orange, red, and green which boldly come alive on the canvas. Zhou most aptly describes the experience of this series of works: 'In a fluid emotion and mood of colors, flows indulgence of primitive and sincere imaginations. It is the total release of human nature against a grand scene, an explosion of gentle violence.'

The lush landscape gives way to an eroticism and sensuality which seeps into each petal of the peach blossoms, the atmosphere further accentuated by the supple pink flesh of each figure. There is something visceral and almost primordial about Zhou's paintings: the figures, placed subtly into the idyllic landscape, suggest harmony and balance between man and nature.

The emblematic symbol of peach blossoms becomes infused with alluring notions of eroticism in his creations, allowing a wealth of signification and suggestion into the mind of the viewer. In Asian tradition, the peach, its tree and blossoms are all highly prized, not only as a delicious fruit, but also for their ancient association with folklore. A reoccurring motif in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean art, the peach holds a truly mystical power and position in Asian cultures. In China, the peach is said to be consumed by immortal gods and deities because of its ability to imbue them with the virtue of longevity. According to legend, the Jade Emperor, the Taoist ruler of Heaven and all other worlds, ensured the various gods their everlasting life by feeding them the peaches of immortality. Zhou, undoubtedly, recognizes the inherent power of such a celebrated motif. His style has always reflected coalescence between traditional and modern sensibilities. 

Born in Chongqing in 1955, Zhou Chunya joined an art school at age 15, because 'I wanted to eat meat,' he said. The school's aim was to produce artists to serve the Cultural Revolution and create political propaganda. Twelve years later, Zhou graduated from the department of painting at the Sichuan Academy of Fine Art. However, it would be studying at the Kassel Academy of Fine Art in Germany, from 1986 to 1988, which would inspire his truly unique mixture of East and West. Today, he is an exceptionally versatile artist, working in both two and three dimensions. Zhou's oeuvre is comprised by his famous 'green dog' paintings and sculptures, 'mountains and stones' series, 'man in red' paintings, and most recently, his 'peach blossoms' series. Before studying abroad, Zhou also painted a series of works inspired by the Tibetan ethnic minority in China. With an undeniable eye for expression through movement and gesture, Zhou reveals his insightful and romanticized understanding of the human form and spirit, captured in essence in the context of the land.