Flowers in a Vase
Wu Dayu
1950
- YEAR:circa 1950
- MEDIUM:Oil on canvas
- DIMENSIONS:60.3 × 50.3 cm
Introduction
Wu Dayu, known as the “father of Chinese Abstract Art,” studied in France and returned to China, where he participated in founding theNational College of Art in (now the China Academy of Art). He is also a key founding figure of modern art education in China. In 1941, he proposed the concept of “Shixiang” (Dynamic Expressionism), opening an artistic path independent of Western abstract traditions but deeply rooted in Chinese philosophy and aesthetics. Flowers in a Vase, was created around 1950, represents a crucial period in his exploration of abstract art. The forms of flowers and vase are still recognizable, but their concrete images begin to dissolve, merging into pure brushstroke and colours, as well as a dynamic, mysterious, and formless sense of momentum. Since many of his early works were lost, this painting is particularly precious and it serves as a crucial testament to his transformation from representational painting to abstract art.
