Qing Qi Gu Guai (Clear, Wondrous, Ancient, Strange)

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Qing Qi Gu Guai (Clear, Wondrous, Ancient, Strange)

Artist Zeng Xiaojun (Chinese, b. 1954)

Place of OriginChina

Date2004

DimensionsH: 60 3/4 in. (154.3 cm); W: 132 1/4 in. (335.9 cm)

MediumInk and color on paper

ClassificationDrawings

Credit LineGift of The Georgia Welles Apollo Society

Object number

2009.63

Not on View

Label TextIn my heart, there is no concept of classical traditions; there is only good and bad. The distinction between traditions was created by art historians. What I look for is spirituality, dedication, technical skill, and taste. Zeng Xiaojun is a scholar and celebrated ink painter known for his expansive approach to the ancient art form of scroll painting. More than 11 feet long and taking three years to complete, Qing Qi Gu Guai (Clear, Wondrous, Ancient, Strange) is a magical, meticulously drawn image of four tenacious, 2,000-year-old cypress trees. Long admired and venerated, the four cypresses have inspired numerous poets and artists with their gnarled trunks and wild foliage. They are symbols of a passion for life and embody determination and survival. The trees grow at the foot of Dengwei Mountain in the historic city of Suzhou, known for its lush gardens and beautiful natural surroundings.Published ReferencesInspired Giving: The Apollo Society 25th Anniversary Exhibition, Toledo Museum of Art, 2010, p. 43, repr. (col.) p. 43.

Exhibition HistoryToledo Museum of Art, Inspired Giving: The Apollo Society 25th Anniversary Exhibition, October 15, 2010-February 13, 2011.

Toledo Museum of Art, Gifts on Paper from The Apollo Society, Apr. 10-May 31, 2015.