Orchid

On the subject of flowers, Chao Shao-an created a series of blossoms with white components. This gracefully rendered moth orchid is a humidity-loving plant first introduced to Hong Kong in the 1960s. Its white, butterfly-like blossoms soon became popular in wedding bouquets. The orchid here has white petals with reddish brushstrokes on the pistils, and stems in ink washes ranging from brown to black and gray.

As with many of the artist’s works, the inscription in long rows stands in contrast to the horizontal flower, reflecting his aesthetic:

Flowers called butterflies come from the West.
They spread their wings to greet the wind; they fly in pairs.
As a sign of returning spring, their fragrance
Permeates the room.
My idle brush is already devoid of thoughts and concerns.
Jisi year [1989], spring, third month. Chao Shao-an paints a
portrait of the flower. Age eighty-five.