Created By
Mediha Ting
Acrylic on canvas
Curator
Artbridger Curator
"Engaging in a mesmerizing dialogue across temporal boundaries, 'Poppy Remembrance' by Mediha Ting pays homage to the botanical mastery of Giuseppe Castiglione. Ting's meticulous depiction of the poppy's intricate anatomy, juxtaposed against the profound black backdrop, evokes a harmonious blend of European baroque aesthetics and Chinese artistic sensibilities. The golden linework delicately dances across the canvas, accentuating the poppy's ethereal beauty and highlighting the artist's keen observation of nature's ephemeral grace. Through a contemporary lens, Ting reinvigorates the historical tradition of botanical art, inviting viewers to reflect on the enduring allure of floral symbolism and artistic legacy."
In this piece, Mediha Ting engages in dialogue with Giuseppe Castiglione (Lang Shining, 郎世寧), the Italian Jesuit missionary and court painter who served the Qing Dynasty. The choice of the poppy as subject matter is particularly poignant, as it carries deep symbolic meaning in both Eastern and Western traditions. The technical execution demonstrates the precise botanical observation that Castiglione was known for during his time at the imperial court, while the contemporary medium and approach create a bridge across centuries. The dramatic isolation of the single flower against the dark ground reflects both European baroque influences and Chinese artistic principles of space and essence. The meticulous attention to the plant's natural structure, combined with the elegant simplicity of the composition, exemplifies how historical botanical painting traditions can be reimagined through contemporary artistic practices.
Created By
Mediha Ting
60 x 26 cm | 24 x 10 in
2022
