Existing comment:
The Botanist
Hung Liu's maternal grandfather, Liu Weihua (1894–1962), was a teacher and scholar, who was active in Liu's intellectual formation. He instilled in her a sense of confidence and determination, and she credits him with shaping her approach to feminism. In his research, Liu Weihua focused on the ecological systems and religious shrines of Qianshan Mountain, as well as the monks, nuns, and priests who dwelled there. Liu, who has long been interested in her grandfather's discoveries, has based some of her paintings on photographs that he commissioned during his research trips.
When describing The Botanist and other portraits of her grandfather, Liu emphasizes the vivid memories she has of his physical presence: "I remember a lot of things: his face, his demeanor, his body language. He had hands that were very soft and big. So those kinds of things were very important for me as part of these paintings."
Oil on canvas, 2013
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; gift of Lorrie and Richard Greene and Accessions Committee Fund purchase |