The Four Seasons
1/F Chao Shao-an Gallery
Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Organised by
the Hong Kong Heritage Museum
Nature has a wonderful rhythm; the seasons come and go along with their changing
scenes. Have you ever experienced the beauty of nature?
Professor Chao Shao-an immersed himself in the inspiration of nature throughout
his life. With nature as his mentor, he observed the natural world meticulously, with a
unique vision to discover the ultimate beauty. He captured its essence, using superb
painting skills to create unique works of art. His brushes created flowers in full bloom,
dazzling in their brilliance. His favourite noble cicadas sing loudly and clearly in the
summer willows, with red lychees in abundance, the fruit of the season. Depicting a rich
autumn harvest, he painted fisherman along the reed shore. He admired the plum blossoms in
moonlight and enjoyed the serenity of dreamlike winter snow.
Professor Chao realised that a harmonious life could be found in the seasonal
changes and in his feelings of coexistence with nature, exemplified in his words: "I only
wish I could be at leisure." In this exhibition, with the four seasons as the theme, a
selection of around 40 paintings have been chosen from our collection. So let Professor
Chao lead you to the beauty of the four seasons with the poetic scenery he
created.
Exhibit Highlights
Chinese trumpet creeper
1968
Album leaf, ink and colour on paper
Collection of Hong
Kong Heritage Museum
Poinsettia
Not dated
Album leaf, ink and colour on paper
Collection of
Hong Kong Heritage Museum
Pine
1970
Album leaf, ink and colour on paper
Collection of Hong
Kong Heritage Museum
Spring
ca. 1991
Ink on paper
Collection of Hong Kong Heritage
Museum
Tiger lily
1966
Album leaf, ink and colour on paper
Collection of Hong
Kong Heritage Museum
Lotus
Not dated
Album leaf, ink and colour on paper
Collection of
Hong Kong Heritage Museum
Jumping frog
1993
Album leaf, ink and colour on paper
Collection of Hong
Kong Heritage Museum
Plum in the misty night
1967
Horizontal scroll, ink and colour on paper
Collection
of Hong Kong Heritage Museum
Peony
Not dated
Album leaf, ink and colour on paper
Collection of
Hong Kong Heritage Museum
Three friends of winter: pine, bamboo and plum
blossoms
1987
Album leaf, ink and colour on paper
Collection of Hong
Kong Heritage Museum
Grapes
1970
Album leaf, ink and colour on paper
Collection of Hong
Kong Heritage Museum
Kapok blossoms
1982
Vertical scroll, ink and colour on paper
Collection of
Hong Kong Heritage Museum
Little bird on maiden-hair tree branch
1981
Vertical scroll, ink and colour on paper
Collection of
Hong Kong Heritage Museum
Landscape in winter
Not dated
Album leaf, ink and colour on paper
Collection of
Hong Kong Heritage Museum
Bird in autumn
Not dated
Album leaf, ink and colour on paper
Collection of
Hong Kong Heritage Museum
Chrysanthemum
Not dated
Album leaf, ink and colour on paper
Collection of
Hong Kong Heritage Museum
Bird on winter pine
1944
Hanging scroll, ink and colour on paper
Collection of
Hong Kong Heritage Museum
Azaleas
Not dated
Album leaf, ink and colour on paper
Collection of
Hong Kong Heritage Museum
Crabapple blossoms
Not dated
Album leaf, ink and colour on paper
Collection of
Hong Kong Heritage Museum
Noble bottle tree
Not dated
Album leaf, ink and colour on paper
Collection of
Hong Kong Heritage Museum
Summer
ca. 1991
Ink on paper
Collection of Hong Kong Heritage
Museum