Dialogue through time with Giuseppe Castiglione (與朗世寧超時空對畫) “Yellow Roses with Bleeding heart” (黃剌䕷 魚兒牡丹)

Curator

Luke Chapman

In this work, Mediha Ting continues her artistic dialogue with Giuseppe Castiglione (Lang Shining, 郎世寧), the Italian Jesuit missionary and court painter of the Qing Dynasty. The pairing of European roses with the Asian-native Bleeding Heart creates a botanical metaphor for the cultural synthesis that characterized Castiglione's own work at the imperial court. The technical execution demonstrates masterful attention to botanical accuracy - a hallmark of Castiglione's style - while employing contemporary materials and techniques. The climbing composition with its graceful, extending branches reflects traditional Chinese painting principles of movement and space, while the precise delineation of each botanical element shows European influence. Through this work, Ting explores the continuing relevance of Castiglione's East-West artistic fusion in contemporary art practice, creating a sophisticated bridge between historical botanical painting traditions and modern artistic expression.