LOT 49
CHEN WEN HSI
B. Singapore, 1906 – 1991
Sparrows and Wisteria
Signed in Chinese character on the middle left
Chinese ink and watercolour on paper
68 x 68 cm
Formerly Private Collection Sydney, Australia
Private Collection, Singapore
Comes with receipt of purchase from Bonhams
A similar piece “Birds in Love” was sold in Christie’s Auction Hong Kong in November 2019 at HKD$ 200,000
RM 38,000 – RM 75,000
In Chen Wen Hsi’s illustrious career, he has featured a myriad of small creatures in his work, from tiny sparrows to gibbons and herons. This painting is a testament to years of study on his subjects and a deep understanding of their bodily structure. In Sparrows and Wisteria, the quick application of ink against paper captures the fleeting scene of sparrows gathering on the branch of a plant. A work of impeccable liveliness, the work marks the start of spring, with the robust appearance of wisteria, where the sparrows join in a celebratory chorus for the new season.