Opulence of the Jao’s Lotus: The Formation and Development of the Jao's Lotus

Since the beginning of the new century, Professor Jao has been furthering his techniques of lotus painting with modulation through brush method, coloration and even composition, many of which has not been used by the predecessors. Among others, some lotus are delineated in gold or silver but shaded with red. He also employs different ways of sketching, including the Dunhuang line drawing method, while others are scribbled with ink and color splashes followed by outlining with gold or silver. He also paints lotus in expressive style by applying only splash color and syncopated strokes. Sometimes he writes the inscription in gold over the splash ink lotus leaves, producing his distinctive composition. For more than a decade, such kaleidoscopic representation in different forms has become the uniqueness of Jao’s Lotus.

HKUP Fall / Winter 2014