Chua Ek Kay
春觞 Plum Blossoms, Teapot and Teacup
Ink on rice paper
58x45cm

This painting is titled 春觞, where 春 means spring and 觞 means to raise a cup in celebration. 春觞 is a toast to welcome the Spring Festival, a time for family reunions and to welcome the new year with hopes for prosperity and good fortune.

Plum blossoms are known to bloom during the harsh conditions of late winter and is a symbol of endurance and perseverance. They are also one of the first flowers to bloom during spring, signifying growth and new beginnings.

Chua Ek Kay started learning from his master Fan Chang Tien in 1975, Fan taught him the fundamentals of ink painting through the depictions of the “Four Gentlemen” (Plum Blossom, Bamboo, chrysanthemum and orchid). Apart from the form of the subject, the symbolism of these subjects was of greater significance to Chua Ek Kay and Fan Chang Tien.

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