The Eight Immortals

'Born in Guangdong province, Ding studied Western art at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts, where he was influenced by the colourful style of the Fauves, and Matisse in particular. In 1925 he returned to China, where he played a significant role in rejuvenating traditional styles with the colour and spontaneity of contemporary Western art. In 1949 he moved to Hong Kong and founded the Fine Arts Department of the Arts College in 1957. This lively scroll depicting the Eight Daoist Immortals is typical of Ding's individual and eccentric idiom, with its caricature figurative style, effervescent colours and the so-called quality of 'zhuo' or 'deliberate clumsiness'. The inscription describes the eight Immortals and reads: 'Zhang Guolao was riding backwards on his mule; Lan Caihe had a childish look; Lu Dongbin learnt the secret of Daoism; the great Han dynasty general Zhongli Quan had an erudite expression; Cao Guoqiu was a relative of the Imperial family; Li Tieguai was grotesque and crippled; Han Xiangzi's flute music resounded among the clouds; He Xiangu was a fair lady. Painted by Ding Yangyong in the 'wuwu' year [1978].'

‘The Asian Collections: Art Gallery of New South Wales’. pg.174.
© 2003 Trustees, Art Gallery of New South Wales