Artist: Agnes C. Lee
Title: Dancing with Poem AV 218
Year created: 2019
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Height (inches): 40
Signed by the artist
Signed Area: back
Width (inches): 30
Depth (inches): 2
Condition: Please note there is a 1/4 inch chip to the paint in the left top corner of the paint.
This piece is unframed.
Description of piece:Inspired by classical Chinese poetry, Dr. Lee uses a combination of acrylic and other paints to abstract Chinese calligraphy into dynamic images of emotion and action. This piece is based on Prelude to the Melody of Water by Su Shi and features sweeping arcs, bold contrasts, and hints of metallic silver luster that combine to form a unique interplay between light, movement and space.
Poem Translation by Xu Yuan-Zhong:
Prelude to the Melody of Water
On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival of 1076, I drank happily till dawn and wrote this in my cups while thinking of Zi-You (my brother)
Su Shi (Translated by Xu Yuan-Zhong)
How long will the bright moon appear?
Wine-cup in hand, I ask the sky.
I do not know what time of year
It would be tonight in the palace on high.
Riding the wind, there I would fly.
Yet I fear the crystal palace would be
Far too high and cold for me.
I rise and dance, with my shadow I play.
On high as on earth, would it be as gay?
The moon goes round the mansion red
Though gauze-draped windows soft to shed
Her light upon the sleepless bed.
Against man she should have no spite.
Why then when people part is she oft full and bright?
Men have sorrow and joy, they part or meet again;
The moon may be bright or dim, she may wax or wane.
There has been nothing perfect since the olden days.
So let us wish that man
Will live long as he can.
Though miles apart, we’ll share the beauty she displays.
水調歌頭
蘇軾 丙辰中秋,歡飲達旦,大醉,作此篇,兼懷子由。
明月幾時有?把酒問青天。不知天上宮闕,今夕是何年。我欲乘風歸去,又恐瓊樓玉宇,高處不勝寒。起舞弄清影,何似在人間。
轉朱閣,低綺戶,照無眠。不應有恨,何事長向別時圓?人有悲歡離合,月有陰晴圓缺,此事古難全。但願人長久,千里共嬋娟。
Note: full Chinese text and English translation of the subject poem is included on the back side of the canvas.
Artist bio:
Born in Chungking, China, Agnes Lee grew up in Hong Kong before moving to Taiwan. She earned her Master's and Ph. D. degrees in Physical Chemistry from Bryn Mawr College. Agnes devoted her professional career to medical research and played a pivotal role in establishing a Bone Marrow Registry in Taiwan, which has helped save hundreds of lives. Agnes fell in love with the arts at a young age, and has actively pursued her own artistic expression since retiring from the medical field.