By Georgette Chen
The image of the painting (Still Life with Big Durian painting picture, n.d.).
This painting shows Georgette’s distinct Impressionism style
infused with Asian elements, very obviously seen through the use of heavy brushstrokes, oriental
reds and the choice of fruits depicted. The durian is the focal point in the
picture with the green standing out from the background of paler colours. The
mangosteens and rambutans give the impression of clutter, but add vibrance, to
direct the audience’s eyes to the durian. The use of pleasant shades of colour
give the painting a nostalgic and energetic feel.
Georgette masterfully expresses the simple joys of everyday
living (Still Life with Big Durian, 2005) in Singapore through an accurate
artistic representation of the local eating culture back in the 1960s. Back then,
people did not demand much. The period of rapid industrial growth after
independence made the locals focus on finding appreciation in the daily
routines of life instead of the luxuries they dreamt of.
There is much to learn from this artwork. “Beauty is in the
eye of the beholder”; Georgette definitely found beauty in the most common of
things, especially fruits. You can check out other still life paintings by
Georgette Chen here (auction and sale information): http://www.myarttracker.com/node/377936/artworks/by-artist/Georgette-Chen
References
Still
Life with Big Durian. (2005). Life and
art of Georgette Chen. Retrieved from http://www.artoutreachprogram.org/images/pdfs/PORTFOLIOS/The%20Life%20&%20Art%20of%20Georgette%20Chen.pdf
Still
life with big durian picture [Image] (n.d.). Retrieved from http://poppypeppers.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/img_1519.jpg
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