About Stephen Lowe

Born in 1938 in China’s Taishan District of Guangdong Province, Stephen Lowe (劉允衡 Liu Yunheng, 1938 – 1975) displayed a natural inclination toward art, poetry and music at an early age. While in his teens, Stephen journeyed to Hong Kong, searching out renown master, Professor Zhao Shaoang of the Lingnan School of Art, acclaimed at the time as southern China’s leading school of contemporary Chinese art. “Lingnan,” referring to the region “South of the Ridges” of Guangdong province, was bestowed to a style of 20th century art that fuses classical Chinese painting styles with Japanese and Western artistic trends. Under Zhao’s tutelage and mentorship, Stephen formed a solid basis for his painting technique founded on Chinese tradition and his love for the natural beauty of the country. He emigrated to Canada in 1956, and years later from his namesake art gallery located at the famed Empress Hotel in Victoria, B.C., shared his vision of China with people from all over the world through his delicate and sensitive watercolour interpretations of flowers, birds and landscapes.

Tragically in 1975, at the age of 37, Stephen died from a rare form of lymphoma. During his short life, he held 23 solo shows, including exhibitions at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, the Royal British Columbia Museum and the United Nations Headquarters in New York. In addition, Stephen taught privately and gave lessons at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, and the University of Victoria. After Stephen's untimely passing, his wife Eunice continued managing the gallery in Victoria, and in 1979, opened a second gallery in Calgary, Alberta where it has flourished under the directorship of their eldest daughter Anna and her husband Allen. Before retiring in 2003, Eunice continued sharing Stephen’s legacy, by producing the first publication “The Art of Stephen Lowe”, and by organizing local and international exhibitions. Most notable is The Homecoming Tour, a six-month retrospective exhibition held in China in 1985-86 of 129 original paintings. Sponsored by the elite Artists Association of China, this exhibition toured the National Art Museums in the four major cities of Beijing, Nanjing, Shanghai and Guangzhou receiving critical acclaim across China. Most recently in 2016, on the 30th anniversary of The Homecoming Tour, Stephen’s paintings were once again featured in 3 major solo exhibitions, Stephen Lowe – A Bridge Between Cultures, this time hosted by in the Guangzhou Museum of Art, the Lingnan Museum of Art, and the Canadian Consulate in Guangzhou, in celebration of its new chancery. This tour also launched the definitive and newly published art volume, Stephen Lowe – A Bridge Between Cultures.

Curator’s Statement

On the doorstep of a new decade, 45 years after my father Stephen Lowe’s passing in 1975, my family and I are thrilled to have this wonderful opportunity to continue sharing the story of his life and art with the world.

This exhibition features 13 of Stephen's most beloved works which demonstrate his mastery of the Lingnan style of painting. Lingnan, refers to the region south of the 5 ridges in southern China’s Guangdong province, and it is here where the Lingnan school of painting was founded in the early 1900's, by classical Chinese artists Gao Jianfu, Gao Qifeng and Chen Shuren. Challenged by political and cultural changes in China's Republican Era, these three traveled and studied in Japan, and on their return, brought back new ideas and concepts prevalent in Japanese painting at the time. These included the use of brilliant washes of colour, deriving subject matter from nature, and painting with a more representational approach.

Stephen had the privilege to study with Prof. Zhao Shaoang in Hong Kong, who was one of four renowned 2nd generation Lingnan masters during the 1900's. Although Stephen's lesson time with Prof Zhou was limited, he learned a great deal and was able to continue studying on his own, across the ocean in his adopted country, Canada.

Stephen was well versed in a variety of subject matter including lively birds, delicate flowers, pensive figures, and most of all, soaring landscape vistas, all inspired by the rich views of southern China. There are certain characteristics and techniques that define the Lingnan style and this exhibit has many examples.

The "One Stroke" technique

The beauty of Lingnan painting is in its simplicity. The "one stroke" brush technique is one of the cornerstone concepts of Lingnan painting. It may take seconds to perform but a lifetime to perfect. This is where the artist can achieve shadow and light, depth and dimension, rhythm and movement, strength and softness - all in one stroke.

These are best illustrated for example, in the body and feathers of the small birds and the stalk of a tree branch as seen in Tree Peony, Queen of all Flowers; the face of mountain rocks in Legend of the Peach Blossom Stream; the brush and twigs in Lovers Seeking Treasured Plum Blossoms on New Year’s Eve; and the bamboo in Surprise.

The “Boneless” technique

This is where washes of color, without outline, can still render contour, shading, and dimension as seen in the body of the cat in Surprise; the petals and leaves of the flowers in Elegance; and Double Tree Peony; the mountain and trees in Snow Transforms Mountain and Village; and the bamboo forest in Lonely Boat in Bamboo Forest.

The last years of Stephen's life saw some of his most brilliant paintings influenced by western watercolor techniques which led to even looser brushwork and washes, creating more abstract and ethereal images. This used in panoramic landscapes dotted with tiny villages or figures, gave a sense of tremendous scale and grandeur -- an effect that was a favorite of Stephen's, as seen in Snow Transforms Mountain and Village; Lovers Seeking Treasured Plum Blossoms on New Year’s Eve; and I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes Unto The Hills- Psalm 121. This was the direction Stephen was fervently exploring and one only wonders what would have been created had his life not been cut short at the age of 37.

His greatest joy was to have the simple beauty of his art transcend the boundaries of language and nationality -- to connect with the viewer and move them without words.

Stephen strove to be a cultural bridge between East and West through his painting, and though he is not here with us today, his legacy continues to share that vision.

Anna Lowe Lam
Director, Stephen Lowe Art Gallery

www.stephenloweartgallery.ca

Exhibition on view through June 2020
Yale-China Association
Bierwirth Room
442 Temple Street
New Haven, CT
+1 203 432 0884

About the Exhibition

Bridging Cultures: The Art of Stephen Lowe features 13 signed and numbered edition prints that illustrate Stephen Lowe’s range of work throughout his career. These pieces are from the Stephen Lowe Art Gallery based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. This exhibit was made possible by the generosity of Stephen Lowe’s family and friends. The exhibit is on view from January 31 through June 30, 2020.

The Stephen Lowe Art Gallery would like to thank the Yale-China Association for the privilege and honour of sharing “Bridging Cultures: The Art of Stephen Lowe” with the Yale community and beyond.

Special Thanks

Wendy James
The Family of Stephen Lowe
Sam Pekats
Xiaorong Liu
Hannah Yuan Chen
Brendan Woo
Michelle Averitt

Yale-China Art Exhibit Series

As part of Yale-China’s mission of fostering understanding between Chinese and Americans, the Art Exhibit Series presents art and artists who explore elements, subjects, or themes inspired by Yale-China’s work at the intersection of Chinese and American cultures.