MAESTROS MAESTROS
ByCAROLINE SHEPHARD
T
ransferred from their usual galleries in Hong Kong By Caroline Shepherd and Singapore to Nanjing in celebration of the Youth Olympic Games, a rare opportunity view and an imTransferred from their usual galleries in HongtoKong pressive list ofinartists came toofathe close last month at Singapore to Nanjing celebration Youth Olympicthe Games, a rare opportunity to view an impresJiangsu Provincial Art Museum. sive list of artists came to a close last month at the Maestros of and post-impressionistic Jiangsu Provincial Artimpressionistic Museum. paintings, ceramics and print works such as Renoir, MaestrosMonet, of impressionistic and post-impressionistic Chagall, Pissarro, Rodin, Matisse, Gaugin, Inpaintings, ceramics print Dali, worksDufy suchand as Degas Renoir,were on gres, Moore,and Picasso, Monet, Chagall, Pissarro, Rodin, Matisse, Gaugin, display in the marvellous private collection that took Ingres, Moore, Dali,over Dufy and Degas to were on the LekPicasso, Yuen Group two decades assemble. display in the marvellous private collection that took the Lek YuenPersonally, Group over twoimpressed decades towith assemble. I was Matisse’s painting titled “River” as, same with everyone, I am so faPersonally, I was impressed withwith Matisse’s titled miliar with his drawing scissorspainting style that I was “River” as, same with everyone, I am so familiar with his taken a back a little at seeing this impressionistic, drawing with scissors style that I was taken a back a thickly painted and quietly dramatic piece. Others of little at seeing this impressionistic, thickly painted and particularpiece. note were visualoftreat that is note Chagall’s quietly dramatic Otherthe pieces particular “Circus Scene”. Picasso’s ceramics work, notably were the visual treat that is Chagall’s “Circus Scene”. Mate” and “Hand“dove on Fish”, were Picasso’s“Dove ceramics work, notably mate” anddelightful “hand onand fish”, were delightful not one of although not one ofand my although favourite artists, I could my favourite I could appreciate the bronzes u reallyartists, appreciate thereally mastery of Degas’s mastery close. of Degas’s bronzes upfront. money impresses, the masterly cubist piece If moneyIfimpresses, then thethen masterly cubist piece “Woman“Woman with green hat” by Picasso a knock with Green Hat” bywas Picasso wasout. a knock Gallery hearsay had hearsay it that the of out. Gallery hadoverall it thatmonetary the overallvalue monetary the Lek Yuen collection stands at one billion US dollars value of the collection stands at US$1 billion with that with the individual Picasso “Woman with Green Hat” particular Picasso valued at US$25 million. valued at US$25 million. Of the many school children and to attend the exhibiOf the many school children to attend exhibi- with tion, budding maestroand Nuskai, a yearthe 11 student tion, budding maestro Nuskai, a year 11 student with that I the British School of Nanjing, said, “The one the British School of Nanjing, said, “the one that I admired so much was The chapel of Notre-Dame-de admired so much was The chapel of Notre-Dame-de -Grace, Honfleur by Oscar-Claude He put his -Grace, Honfleur by Oscar-Claude Monet.Monet. He used main effort on accurate depiction of light in changvisible brush strokes like for the tree branches. Heitsput qualities. The paint is alive. of Thelight moody his maining effort on accurate depiction in itssky makes changingit qualities. paintand is alive. canif almost hear even moreThe special quietI as the whole world the ringing theone church and the sound can of the hadofno left. bells Successful artworks easily releaves in the TheClaude moodyMonet sky makes it even formwind. people. achieved thatmore through special and quiet as if the whole world had no one my left.own his works and this influences me to create Successful artworks can easily reform people. Claudepiece which will inspire someone else”. Monet achieved that through his works and this influencesClassmate me to create my Sik ownChoi piece whichto will inspire Hyeon reacted Pablo Picassomeone so’s else”. “Hand on Fish” ceramics piece by commenting, “I like this art work because it makes me think Classmate Hyeon Sik Choi reacted to Pablo Picasso’s about a lot of things. It reminds me of sliced raw fish ‘Hand on fish’ ceramics piece by commenting, “I like because the hand looks that of a chef. this art work because it makes me like think about a lot ofPicasso has used a combination of because straight and things. It reminds me of sliced raw fish the smooth lines over artwork to create a mooda which is hand looks likeallthat ofthis a chef’s. Picasso has used combination straight and smooth lines all over this bothofvivid and lively. This makes the fish very alive, as artwork toif create a mood which both and lively. it was just caught fromisthe seavivid by a fisherman.” This makes the fish very alive as if it was just caught from the sea by a fisherman.”