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Zhong Cheng 2024 Autumn Auction「Modern And Contemporary Art」

  • Zhong Cheng 2023 Autumn Auction「Modern And Contemporary Art」
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    SHIY DEJINN (1923-1981)

    Mountain Beyond the Hengshan River

    1979

    Watercolor on Paper
    65 x 110 cm

    Signed Shiy Dejinn in Chinese and dated 1979 With one collector\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\' s seal of Mr. Lu Ching-Hua on the reverse

    Estimate TWD 750,000-850,000
    USD 23,500-26,700
    HKD 0-0

    Hammer Price TWD 900,000
    USD 28,846
    HKD 226,700

Provenance：This work belongs to the collection of Shiy De-Jinn Foundation, Founding Director Mr. Lu Ching-Hua

Illustrated：

Exhibition：

Exposition：

Renowned artist Shiy Dejinn predominantly expresses his artistic vision through the mediums of ink and watercolor, a style widely celebrated as emblematic of his creative genius. His renditions of Taiwan's ancient architecture and natural landscapes have earned him distinctive acclaim. These artworks not only serve as a testament to Shiy Dejinn's masterful painting techniques but also seamlessly intertwine his deep reverence for both traditional and contemporary aesthetics, coupled with a profound connection to the local culture and the natural world.

Shiy Dejinn's artistry excels in harmonizing tradition, modernity, and the intrinsic essence of Taiwan's landscapes. Through his skillful brushwork, he brings forth the everyday allure of ancient Taiwanese structures and the breathtaking serenity of natural vistas, encapsulating a timeless beauty that resonates with viewers. This unique artistic expression has firmly positioned Shiy Dejinn as a pivotal figure in Taiwan's art scene, particularly during an era characterized by the convergence of Eastern and Western creative mediums and ideologies.

Shiy Dejinn's artistic journey beautifully intersects with the vibrant tapestry of Taiwanese art spanning the years from 1945 to 1980. This period was marked by a dynamic interplay between local artistic expressions and global influences. Influenced by his mentor, Lin Feng-Mien, Shiy Dejinn boldly departed from the conventional techniques acquired during his studies, opting instead to immerse himself in Taiwan's rural landscapes. Here, he engaged directly with nature, exploring the island's mountains and rivers, inspired by their ever-evolving, unpredictable beauty. As he passionately conveyed, "I insist on painting nature directly because of its infinite variability and unpredictability. The climate, the subtle hues—it's a realm that no artist confined to a studio, reliant on formulaic approaches to depict landscapes, could ever dream of."

Shiy Dejinn's exceptional ability to capture the essence of moving air and the profound sense of space within Taiwan's natural landscapes, through on-site sketching, bears witness to his deep affinity with the seemingly ordinary yet profoundly dignified vitality of nature. His artistic style is characterized by a dynamic interplay of robustness, finesse, and tranquility, employing subtle shifts in color and tone to bring to life the exquisite beauty of Taiwan's mountains and waters. His innovative approach to ink painting transcends the confines of traditional ink art, giving birth to an authentic genre known as "Taiwanese landscape painting."

In an illuminating interview titled "Exploring the Roots of Chinese Culture: Shiy Dejinn on His Landscape Paintings," the artist elaborates on his philosophy: "My landscapes are uniquely Taiwanese, painted in a modern style, elevated by traditional culture, and infused with our nation's essence. They are timeless landscapes, perpetually rejuvenated by the ages—landscapes one can trust and find solace in. These are the landscapes of Shiy Dejinn!"

In the following work, Mountain Beyond the Hengshan River, Shiy Dejinn masterfully combines the boneless technique of ink painting with the gentle rendering of watercolors. Here, he simplifies and abstracts the subject matter, removing brushstrokes and contour lines. The lines that delineate the mountain's contours are simplified, and layers of mountains cascade, creating a sense of depth and an ethereal ambiance. Shiy Dejinn employs visual weight and depth to capture air quality and spatial relationships. Moreover, he skillfully balances the composition's visual aesthetics. This rendition of Taiwanese landscapes, as reimagined by Shiy Dejinn through the transformation of traditional ink painting, captures the timeless beauty of Taiwan's nature.

Shiy Dejinn's penchant for simplification not only aligns with the principles of traditional ink painting but also resonates with the definition of simplicity in art proposed by the esteemed German art historian Kurt Badt: "Recognize the essential and subordinate everything else to it. This, indeed, is the clearest and most orderly path that art should follow."

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