Skip to main content
Advanced Search
recto overall
To See the Large Within the Small
recto overall
recto overall

To See the Large Within the Small

Original Language Title小中現大
Artist Tai Xiangzhou (New Zealander, born China, 1968)
Date2017
MediumInk on silk
DimensionsOverall: 24 5/8 × 125 inches (62.55 × 317.5 cm)
Framed: 29 1/4 × 129 1/8 × 3 3/4 inches (74.3 × 327.98 × 9.53 cm)
Credit LineGift of Shao and Cheryl Wang in honor of Colin Mackenzie
Object number2018.21
On View
Not on view
Collections
DescriptionThe landscape painting features a horizontal composition mounted in handscroll format. The painting is executed in ink monochrome on finely woven silk. It has thick paper mount with silk border, but no roller. Viewing from the right to left, the landscape starts from a river winding along the slope of towering mountains. The river continues to flow to the left of the landscape, opening a distant view between the high mountains and then winding around the mountains to a plane view of riverbank. Villages, fishing boats, and dry trees denote the tranquil scene in the chilly season. The scene focuses the the mountain ridges and the panoramic river valley, so the painting margin edges out the tips of the towering peaks. At the left end, the landscape falls into mist. To the left of the painting, the artist, Tai Xiangzhou, writes a lengthy text in small regular script. The calligraphy finishes with his square seal in cinnabar red at the lower left corner.Gallery Label

Known for his rigorous training in Chinese brushwork, the contemporary artist Tai Xiangzhou blends abstract and expressive forms with traditional ink techniques. For this painting, Tai was inspired by one of the earliest landscape paintings in the museum’s collection, Fishermen’s Evening Song by Xu Daoning (about 970–1052), pictured below. As Tai explains in the inscription on the left of the painting, To See the Large Within the Small alludes to the miniature landscape reflected from a small garden rock in his collection. After setting aside his mundane tasks, he enjoys following his inspirations to explore his artistic expression of the landscape.  

Provenance
Shao Wang purchased the painting from the artist in 2017.
Copyright© Tai Xiangzhou
Information about a particular artwork or image, including provenance information, is based upon historic information and may not be currently accurate or complete. Research on artwork and images is an ongoing process, and the information about a particular artwork or image may not reflect the most current information available to the Museum. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about a particular artwork or image, please e-mail provenance@nelson-atkins.org.