Gourds

A master of the symbolic theme, Au Ho-nien has often used plants with hidden auspicious significance in his work. In Chinese culture, a gourd with myriad seeds is a symbol of fertility. By surrounding itself with images of gourds, a family hopes to be blessed with prosperity and unending generations of many male offspring.

Here Au presents yellow gourds suspended from winding vines in ink on plain paper. He uses his characteristic technique of freehand brushwork. Au’s handling of broad washes is animated, as is usual for him. Note the strongly traditional method of mogu, meaning bonelessness, the application of ink and color washes without outlines, that Au employs. The leaves are first painted in black or gray wash, then accented with darker lines to depict the veins and stems.