top of page

Auspicious Blooms - Sanyu and His Era

The first exhibition of Sanyu’s limited edition prints in North America

November 6, 2024 - January 19, 2025
Opening Reception: Sunday, November 17, 2:30-4:00 PM

Organized by the H Foundation for the Arts and co-organized by Be An Culture LLC, the first North American exhibition of modern Chinese artist Sanyu, titled Auspicious Blooms - Sanyu and His Era, will officially open on November 6 and run for two months.

 

Sanyu’s work combines the essence of traditional Chinese literati painting with elements of Western modern art, creating a unique artistic style. Throughout his life, he pursued the true meaning of art, adhering to a pure creative process and remaining indifferent to fame and the commercial art market. As he famously said, “I have nothing in my life; I am simply a painter.” Sanyu led a wandering life, struggling in poverty, and for many years after his death, fell into obscurity.
 

In recent years, his work has regained global attention, consistently achieving remarkable results at major auctions. Several of his oil paintings have surpassed $100 million in sales, breaking records for Chinese oil painting and attracting a significant following among Chinese collectors. With only around 300 works created in his lifetime, Sanyu is now celebrated as the “Matisse of the East.” He is also the only Chinese artist in The Dictionary of Contemporary Art in France 1910-1930. Today, Sanyu stands out in the art market not only for his distinctive aesthetic and artistic style but also for a renewed appreciation of his academic and cultural significance.

 

Sanyu's work has been showcased numerous times in major solo and group exhibitions across France, the Netherlands, Taiwan, and other parts of Asia. However, a comprehensive presentation and promotion of his art has yet to be seen in North America, particularly on the West Coast of the United States. After over a year of negotiations with the National Museum of History in Taipei and authorized parties, our foundation is honored to bring this exhibition to California. Our goal is to showcase this Chinese artist's unique exploration of the intersection of Eastern and Western cultures to North American audiences. Through this exhibition, we aim to enhance art enthusiasts' understanding of Sanyu’s creative journey, inspire dialogue about his artistic synthesis of Chinese and Western influences, and encourage thoughtful reflections on East-West cultural exchange.

盆栽 A Potted Plant, 2017 數位微噴於畫布 Archival pigment print on Canvas 117.9 x 64.8 cm

梅 Plum Blossom, 2017 數位微噴、無酸藝術紙 Giclee on ultra smooth fineart paper 84.6 x 66.2 cm

靜物 Still Life, 2017 數位微噴 Giclee on canvas 73.8 x 90.9 cm

萬物靜觀皆自得 A Calm Contemplation of Everything, 2017 數位微噴、無酸藝術紙 Giclee on ultra smooth fineart paper 115.2 x 64.8 cm

瓶花 Flowers in Vase, 2017 Archival pigment print 數位微噴 59.4 x 89.2 cm

瓶花 (綠) Flowers in Vase, 2017 數位微噴 Giclee on canvas 72.9 x 72.9 cm

花鳥 Flowers and Birds. 2017 數位微噴 Giclee on canvas 67.5 x 81 cm

菊花 Chrysanthemum, 2017 數位微噴、無酸藝術紙 Giclee on ultra smooth fineart paper 51.3 x 82.8 cm

荷 Lotus, 2017 數位微噴 Giclee on canvas 117 x 72.9 cm

裸女 Nude, 2017 數位微噴 Archival pigment print 117.9 x 73.8 cm

竹 Bamboos, 2017 數位微噴 Archival pigment print 73.98 x 104.4 cm

北京馬戲 Beijing Circus, 2017 數位微噴 Giclee on canvas 73.8 x 117.9 cm

浴女 Woman in Bath, 2017 數位微噴 Archival pigment print 117.9 x 73.8 cm

斑馬 Zebras, 2017 數位微噴 Archival pigment print 73.8 x 118.8 cm

菊 Chrysanthemum, 2017 數位微噴、無酸藝術紙 Giclee on ultra smooth fineart paper 135.9 x 69.8 cm

雙人像 Double Portrait, 2017 數位微噴 Giclee on canvas 108.9 x 90.9 cm

望月 Full moon, 2017 數位微噴 Giclee on canvas 78 x 156 cm

Screen Shot 2024-12-31 at 12.07.37 AM

花 Flower, 2017 數位微噴、無酸藝術紙 Giclee on ultra smooth fineart paper 110.7 x 125.1 cm

人體 Nude, 2017 數位微噴 Archival pigment print 41.9 x 53.6 cm

This exhibition showcases 20 globally limited edition prints of Sanyu’s work from the foundation's collection, highlighting his three most prominent themes: flowers, nudes, and animals. Flowers are the most common subject in Sanyu’s body of work, with his bonsai pieces particularly reflecting Eastern aesthetics. As Wu Guanzhong noted, "Sanyu himself is like a bonsai, an Eastern bonsai in the Parisian garden." The exhibition will also present the limited edition print of Nude, a piece that Xu Zhimo famously referred to as “the thighs of the universe.” There are two oil paintings titled Nude: one is held at the National Museum of History in Taipei, while a large-format version achieved a record sale of 198 million HKD, highlighting its significance in Sanyu's artistic journey. The prints will be presented in four series: Blooming Flowers, Serenity, Elegance, and Fairy Tale. Produced in 2017 by the National Museum of History in Taipei, each print is crafted using museum-grade, acid-free paper and digital micro-spray technology. Each piece includes an exclusive certificate of authenticity from the National Museum of History in Taipei.

bottom of page