“Unrestraint – shown in a bold, stunning style arising from a place of absolute purity – is the most significant feature of Supreme Master Ching Hai’s paintings, whose colors are daring, unpretentious and highly transparent. In these works there is no trace of deliberate technique or affectation.” ~ Claire Chen

The Supreme Master’s paintings express a natural flow of inner feelings and are rich in spiritual values. From the artistic perspective, they are world-class masterpieces.

Moon Light: This work, like New Era, exudes a mysterious ambience, expressing a sense of tranquility, which, remarkably, is in no way affected by its daring, vibrant composition. This painting conveys a very profound feeling.

Mangosteen: While a few of the Supreme Master’s paintings create the impression that She is a self-taught painter, some of Her works are highly professional in terms of artistic technique. Among these, Mangosteen stands out for its rare excellence with respect to composition and color use. Some hues are easy to employ in painting, but some are not. Red, for example, appears obtrusive and vulgar if utilized inappropriately. In Mangosteen, the red tone delivers a rich, lively sentiment, its usage measuring up to the standards best represented among contemporary artists by Matisse* who was a master in the application of red. This work can only be described as superb.

Struggling: The bold, vibrant use of colors in this piece is matched by an unconventional approach to the visual presentation of distance. The fir trees, standing firm and steady, are painted with the simple strokes of a self-taught painter. The green lawn on the slope (perhaps a reflection in the lake) is expressed not in realistic form, but as a huge patch of color boldly applied from left to lower right to create an incredible dynamism. Though seemingly divided into halves, the picture portrays an unspeakable harmony and beauty with no sign of discord.

* Henri Matisse (1869-1954) was the leader of the Fauvist movement and came to fame in Paris around 1905. In western art history, his status is comparable to that of Picasso, and he is revered as the greatest color painter of the 20th century.

Profile of Ms. Claire Chen:
In her younger days, Ms. Chen often accompanied her father to museum exhibitions and concert performances. When she came of age, she met a Frenchman who shared her passion for the arts and later became her husband. Real-life incidents and an innate love for the arts shaped her aesthetic experiences and led her on to freelance artistic work. Her unique talents are frequently revealed in her poetry, paintings and sculptures, which have won her widespread acclaim in Taipei cultural circles and earned her a reputation as a “poet of life”.