Locust-tree Flower

As an outstanding contemporary Chinese oil painter and art educator, Su Tianci had devoted his entire life to the fusion of East and West and the integration of Chinese and foreign oil paintings in order to develop a kind of modern Chinese oil painting with national character. Flowers were Su Tianci’s favorite theme, and Locust-tree Flower exemplifies Su’s fusion of Chinese and Western painting techniques and interests. The vibrant sophora flowers exude an artistic lyricism that expresses optimism for life. These stylistic elements mark the painting as one of the most important works of Su’s artistic career. The title of the work is derived from his motto, “I will full embrace (huai) the spring sunshine,” where the clever pun of the Chinese name for sophoras, huai, on the Chinese word for embrace, also pronounced huai, declares the artist’s ideals in life and in art.