Nanjing Art Scene: Dr. Joachim Pissarro curated a major exhibition of the floral still life interpreted by Western and Chinese masters

Discover an extraordinary collection of modern and contemporary artworks celebrating the beauty of floral still life compositions at the “Nothing Still About Still Lifes: Three Centuries of Floral Compositions” exhibition at the Deji Art Museum in Nanjing, China. The exhibited artists include milestone figures of Western art, members of the first and second generations of Chinese artists who studied abroad, modern art pioneers from other Asian countries, and major figures in contemporary art such as Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Paul Cézanne, Paul Gauguin, Pablo Picasso, Piet Mondrian, Giorgio Morandi, René Magritte, Georgia O’Keeffe, Andy Warhol, Yayoi Kusama, David Hockney, Jeff Koons, Yoshitomo Nara, Takashi Murakami, and Damien Hirst as well as pioneers in Asian art like Wu Guanzhong and Lê Phổ, all sourced from the “World of Flowers” collection at the Deji Art Museum. With such a diverse range of artists and styles showcased, this exhibition is a must-see for any art enthusiast or collector.

Displaying over one hundred works of floral compositions by nearly one hundred Chinese and Western masters, it challenges traditional views on floral still lifes with a fresh transcultural and transdisciplinary perspective, contextualizing changes in artistic style within the narratives of flower species circulation through global trade. This exhibition anchors the artistic production of still lifes within the greater landscape of political, economic, scientific, technological, and cultural development, nurturing rich dialogues between China and the Western world over the centuries. Through the dialectical relationship between “stillness” and “movement,” the exhibition explores the special significance of floral still lifes in Chinese and Western art history and their vital force that inspires our perception and imagination today.