Luis Chan (Chen Fushan)

signed CHEN FUSHAN, dated yi mao, stamped LUIS CHAN 1975, and with three seals of the artist

Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner in 1986

Luis Chan: Urban Geography. Taipei: Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store and Hanart Gallery, 1993

There is a small tear on the lower left margin, otherwise the painting is in good condition overall. Some foxing has been cleraed. Framed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Luis Chan is an important figure in modern Hong Kong art and recognized for his fantastical visions unburdened by the history and conventions of classical Chinese painting. Born in Panama in 1905, he moved to Hong Kong as a child and began his professional career in a lawyer's chamber and at an advertising agency.  After completing a home-study art course through the English publication "Commercial Art and Studio," his focus turned towards explorations in watercolor and eclectic combinations of printmaking and action painting--techniques inspired by Western art.  Considered an 'outsider' of the Chinese art communities, Chan established the Hong Kong Artist's Group with a few foreigners and engaged both Chinese and Western art communities through taking part in their events, discussions and exchanges with artists from mainland China. His exposure to modern developments in Hong Kong established his artist career with a Western perspective but he cultivated his personal style through the adoption of Chinese painting elements.

Landscape Under a Sickle Moon exudes the open-minded imagination of Luis Chan's paintings, which are visual representations of the Chinese urban diaspora in the modern era. The insertion of figures and objects of everyday life into a whimsical landscape express a refreshing sense of surrealism that is unusual to Chinese painting. Against the backdrop of a turbulent history in China and Hong Kong, Chan's works best illustrate the conflict of cultures and a reaction to the anxiety brought on by the loss of identity. His colorful images are a delight amidst the turbulence of everyday life.