On Flowers: Selected Paintings and Poems by Chao Shao-an

Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Organised by the Hong Kong Heritage Museum

A master of the Lingnan School of Painting, Professor Chao Shao-an dedicated his life to the study of nature. As a keen observer of flora, he captured the myriad forms and graceful rhythms of flowers and plants in his nimble brushwork and brilliant composition, producing floral works that exemplify the style of the Lingnan School of Painting. His works go beyond the authentic representation of subjects, embracing the literati spirit of using natural imagery to express one’s personal feelings and aspirations. Professor Chao also often inscribed his own poems onto his paintings, in a harmonious unity of word and image.

Themed around “emotions anchored in nature,” this exhibition features a fine selection of over thirty exquisite paintings of flowers and plants by Professor Chao Shao-an from the Hong Kong Heritage Museum’s collection. The paintings are complemented by the artist’s poetic inscriptions, achieving a seamless fusion of word and image. In viewing the floral exhibits, visitors will appreciate how Professor Chao was able to take flora such as pine trees, bamboo, plum blossoms and orchids and imbue them with noble virtues. His rain-washed plantain trees symbolise spiritual purity, while his withering lotuses and cold sparrows express desolate solitude. By incorporating ancient poems into his portrayals of crabapple blossoms after the rain, magnolia flowers in winter and apricot blossoms blowing in the wind, Professor Chao fuses natural beauty and literary sentiment. Step into the splendid world of Professor Chao’s ink art and experience the poetic artistry embodied in the master’s work.

Supplementing the exhibition is a multimedia display created by Hong Kong artist Thomas Siu. Inspired by Professor Chao Shao-an’s bird-and-flower paintings, this meticulously designed virtual display brings Professor Chao’s floral works to life, immersing viewers in a wonderland of blossoms.

The exhibition is also one of the activities in the Chinese Culture Promotion Series. The LCSD has long been promoting Chinese history and culture through organising an array of programmes and activities to enable the public to learn more about the broad and profound Chinese culture. For more information, please visit https://www.ccpo.gov.hk/en.