Springtime

Springtime (1989) by Wu Guanzhong

Ink and water on paper, 64cm x 64cm

Collector: Rosanna Sistenich

This painting by Wu Guanzhong is from 1989. My late husband Peter and I bought it in May 1990 from the Peninsular Fine Arts Gallery & Auctioneers (Int'l) Ltd in Hong Kong and it’s been hanging on our walls ever since. The Auctioneer described it as “Houses by a Forest” but Wu’s actual title for the painting is Springtime.

Peter and I were attracted to the way Wu Guanzhong painted the houses in a very artistic manner, with seemingly quick brush strokes. The painting reveals a small town by the banks of a river with boats on the water, burgeoning green trees behind the town and mountains in the far distance. Up front the pale pink colours of the cherry blossom herald the arrival of spring. What is in front of the cherry blossoms? That is left unanswered by the artist but I like to imagine that as viewers we are standing amongst the trees, breathing in the delicate and subtle fragrance of the early spring blossom, and looking out to the town beyond. The painting has a timeless air about it and exudes great peace and tranquillity.

This artwork is a good example of Wu Guanzhong’s ink and water paintings that became mature in the 1980s and 1990s. Wu was more devoted to oil painting before the mid-1970s and started to explore ink and water after that. It’s not a big painting but it captures the serenity of the scene beautifully and we loved it from the moment we saw it.

Rosanna Sistenich

(Rosanna Sistenich is a passionate art lover and collector who grew up in Hong Kong and now spends her time between Hong Kong and Sydney with much-loved art on the walls of both homes.)