signed in pinyin and Chinese and dated 1998; Schoeni Art Gallery, Hong Kong label affixed to the reverse

Schoeni Art Gallery, Hong Kong
Important Private Collection

Hong Kong, Schoeni Art Gallery, Wang Yidong Solo Exhibition, March, 1998

Wang Yi Dong, Schoeni Art Gallery, Hong Kong, 1999, p.157, illustrated in colour

The work is overall in good condition. There is a tiny paint loss in the middle of the left edge and below the left hand of the girl. There is no evidence of restoration under UV light.
"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."

Letter from Far Away by Wang Yidong speaks to both Eastern and Western audiences. It combines western techniques and composition with the implicit beauty of Chinese art, rich in both western visual language and prolific Chinese literary references. It invites the audience to read beyond the canvas. Since the late Tang dynasty, candles have been portrayed by Chinese poets as metaphors of the plaint of wives. Bound by conventions and formality, their endlessly waiting for their husbands’ return poured into the source of light, while drips of the burning candle symbolize the tears of longing and sorrow. Here the flickering candlelight in the dark glows to give warmth, and gleams to light up the heroine’s hopes of seeing her lover return. The old photographs on the walls veiled in shadows are symbols of her past memories.

Wang Yidong is the dean of Chinese realism, who excels in setting serene ambience and depiction of everyday objects and characters. Letter from Far Away portrays a young village girl, but the poise of the heroine resembles those appeared under the brushes of the European classical realists. The use of light to create drama in this piece echoes Georges de La Tour’s famed chiaroscuro, using candle lit scenes to deliver a nocturnal simplicity and tranquility. Wang Yidong’s village girl blossoms with the same purity and devotion, her silence whispers the beauty of traditional reserved Chinese sentiments, imprinting the innocent beauty to the viewers’ hearts.