Luo Jianwu (Lo Chien-wu)

titled, signed and dated 2006 in Chinese, and marked with five seals of the artist

Sotheby's Hong Kong, 7th October 2006, lot 748.
Acquired by the present owner from the above.

Overall in good condition
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
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."

Luo Jianwu is a well-practiced draftsman and painter in the ink medium. Finding inspiration from nature and his travels around the world is a vital part of his creative process. From his early years in Taiwan he frequented the prestigious collection at the National Palace Museum and later emmigrated to the United States in 1987 where he admired the international collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He has traveled the world to the great mountains and ancient temples of Huangshan, Huashan and Wuyi, to name a few, where observed the natural forms of exotic and gnarled trees that have been admired for centuries.

Luo reveres the painting traditions of the Song and Yuan dynasties and, in the traditional method, challenges himself to imitate the masterpieces with the goal of achieving a personal breakthrough in his own style. He sets great expectations for each painting and it may take many years or many drafts before he is finally satisfied with the result. He jokes that he has a tendency to afflict himself with troubles and difficult challenges, including the grand 10-meter long waterfall landscape that sold in these rooms in April 2005 (Fine Chinese Paintings, April 2005, lot 152.)

Withered Trunk depicts a twisted tree root composed to be oriented in any direction, horizontal or vertical. The variation of lines and shades of ink are exceptionally detailed and irregularly layered. The hollowness of the root resembles the voids of Taihu lake stones. Contrasting withered and smooth textures transform the organic wood into fossilized stone and pale red ink tones exude a delightful spirit of grace as the image comes to life under his brush.  A four-character palindromic inscription "Flying dragon in the sky" is boldly marked in the centre, which is legible from all four directions. This painting is an exceptional example of the simultaneous reverence for nature and playfulness of ink art in the scholarly tradition. For a rigorous artist like Luo, who is devoted almost religiously to his art, the present painting represents a spectacular breakthrough.