Eastern Gouache

1993

Length:99.8 x Width:80.4 x Height:2.2 (cm)

Chien Chin-Ching (b. 1955, Taichung) was first introduced to traditional Eastern gouache painting (in the nihonga style) under the guidance of master Lin Chih-Chu (1917-2008) during his time at Taiwan Provincial Taichung Teachers College (now National Taichung University of Education). After graduation, he studied under Hsieh Feng-Sheng (1938-2008) and later earned a graduate degree in art education from National Hsinchu University of Education (now National Tsing Hua University) in 2006. A frequent award recipient at the Taiwan Provincial Fine Arts Exhibition and the Taiyang Fine Arts Exhibition, Chien has also served as a juror for many major art competitions. He is an active member of the Taiwan Nihonga Association, dedicated to advancing the medium.
This painting depicts a scene from a Miao village in Guizhou, China. At the center is a thatched house built of earthen walls, its weathered couplets on the door hinting at the passage of time. A curled-up dog and farming tools placed outside lend life and warmth to the setting. Chien uses broad flat brushes and layered washes of blue-gray and earthy brown to evoke a sense of quiet simplicity and rustic charm. In the distance, softly dotted green foliage and a pale blue sky open up the composition, imbuing the landscape with a sense of clarity and expansive space.

Accession number:20170300175