Three Parrots 1981

Editor: Here we have Walasse Ting’s "Three Parrots" from 1981, a riot of watercolor and bold color. The first thing that strikes me is how…untamed it feels, the colours bleeding and blending. What do you make of it? Curator: Untamed is perfect! I think Ting gives us permission to just feel, doesn't he? Forget about precision; the parrotness isn’t really about replicating reality. The joy is in the colours, that delicious, almost edible quality. Did you notice the fauvist leaning, as if Matisse decided to paint some parrots after a really good party? Editor: Totally! But what’s with the expressionistic lines? Do they give a sense of immediacy? Curator: Precisely! Those dark, decisive lines around the wings give the birds a cartoon-like quality. Think about the blend of Eastern calligraphic tradition with Western Pop Art. It’s not just how they look, but also the artist's own journey. Ting moved from Shanghai to Paris to New York...each place adding a layer to his vision. Where do you think these parrots would live? Editor: I see a bustling cityscape reflected in those vibrant colors—a flock of exotic birds escaped into the urban jungle! It seems so playful and exuberant. I appreciate the mix of those strong black lines, making it so striking and spontaneous. Curator: I am very inclined to agree! Maybe the truest art sings the freedom of expression above all. Thanks for chirping in about it!