Dong Shaw-Hwei

signed in Pinyin and dated 2013, framed

Private Collection, Asia

This work is generally in good condition.
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Dong Shaw-Hwei, established female artist from Taiwan, obtained her Masters degree from the Department of Fine Arts of the National Taiwan Normal University. She is now an assistant professor at the University of Taipei. Her artistic career started more than thirty years ago and over these three decades she has held over ten solo exhibitions at home and abroad. Her early work was heavily influenced by Impressionism: during her numerous trips to Europe, she explored and mastered the western technique of handling colour and the expression of light and shadow. Later on during her postgraduate studies, she focused on the Taoist philosophy of Laozi and Zhuangzi, which led to the publication of her book Significance of Beauty in Zhuangzi's philosophy (Zhuangzi sixiang zhi meixue yiyi, Student Book Co., Ltd. , 1993). Towards the late 1990s, a stylistic change became apparent in her work. Aesthetic values pursued by Chinese philosophers and scholars started to heavily influence her compositions, resulting in a highly original series of her work including for example, Still Life, Courtyard, Black and White, Shades and Big Trees. From her European training and gradual adaptation of Chinese philosophies, Dong Shaw-Hwei developed her own personal artistic style. Her oeuvre also stands apart from the main trends of contemporary artistic ideologies.

Dong once said, 'I have always liked still-life, though it is often seen as a genre that lacks creativity and novelty. I observe, then I draw, then finally comes the painting. Therefore, my still-life paintings may be seen as a by-product of my "observations".' Indeed, there is a serene and profound quality in the still-life pieces by Dong and they always imbue viewers with a sense of peace and tranquility. They possess both a traditionally feminine daintiness and grace, as well as a strong formal emphasis, which is a rare quality seen in work by many female artists. Pink Camellia brings us the pure and graceful beauty of camellia. Quaint branches and lush green leaves form an interesting composition. This is a lively depiction under a soft morning light. This is a work of Chinese aestheticism executed in a traditionally western medium, that succeeds in capturing timeless beauty in the present moment, with delicacy and finesse hidden in the seemingly rustic and simple canvas, contrasting qualities which are celebrated on the same surface in perfect harmony.