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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

Chinese trumpet creeper

 

Poinsettia

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

Pine

 

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

Tiger lily

 

Lotus

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

Jumping frog

 

Plum in the misty night

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

Peony

 

Three friends of winter: pine, bamboo and plum blossoms

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

Grapes

 

Kapok blossoms

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

Little bird on maiden-hair tree branch

 

Landscape in winter

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

Bird in autumn

 

Chrysanthemum

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

Bird on winter pine

 

Azaleas

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

Crabapple blossoms

 

Noble bottle tree

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

Summer