A sublime synthesis of styles, vibrant hues and intimate emotional intent, Pink Wave epitomizes the melancholic beauty and ethereal compositions that distinguish Matthew Wong’s remarkable oeuvre. Alluring in its chromatic brilliance and masterful handling of paint, Pink Wave depicts a lone figure meditating on the infinite expanse of the ocean, mesmerized by a flourish of delicate pink blooming along the shore. Combining the traditions of ink wash Chinese landscape painting with the dreamlike qualities of Peter Doig's landscapes, tactility of Vincent Van Gogh’s vibrant compositions, and the brightly hued, profoundly evocative symbolism of Les Nabi, Pink Wave embodies the deeply personal and intuitive combination of art historical tendencies palpable in Wong unique artistic vernacular. Executed in 2017, the present work is an exquisite example of the profoundly vulnerable, hypnotic representation of the subconscious that characterizes Wong's too brief and extraordinarily poignant oeuvre.
Art critic Roberta Smith describes viewing Wong's paintings "a visceral experience, like falling for an unforgettable song on first listen. It was deeply nourishing: my life had been improved, and I know other people who have had the same reaction. Such relatively unalloyed pleasure is almost as essential as food." (Roberta Smith, "A Final Rhapsody in Blue From Matthew Wong," The New York t.mes s, 2019 (online)) Pink Wave is irrefutably moving; the emotional, chromatic and spatial complexities of the composition, populated by a solitary figure, inspire introspective reflection, the canvas seemingly encapsulating a surreal collects ive subconscious. Compositionally segmented into land, sky and sea, Pink Wave recalls the radical sublimity of Caspar David Friedrich's famous painting, Monk by the Sea (1808–1810).
“At the center of my practice is exploring the materiality of paint and struggling to yield a surface that gives a sense of space and structure, however contradictory, that reaches a state of form I can live with...I figure these basic painterly tropes are a good starting point for me to establish my visual vocabulary and also have a dialogue with the paintings of the past and present that I admire and learn from looking at.”
Wong’s unique, idiosyncratic vocabulary of semi-abstracted strokes and shapes is encapsulated here by the single flower of saffron yellow and blush pink, alluring in its vivid brilliance. Juxtaposing the vast expenses of navy, burgundy and celadon green that appear to transcend the border of the canvas, the recognizable human figure and flower enable the viewer to experience the picture directly, grounding the fantastical landscape in something universally relatable. Captivating in its ineffable serenity, Pink Wave exemplifies the very best of Wong's highly celebrated practice, balancing between the reality and subconscious, fantasy and figurative.
Market Precedent: Matthew Wong
