Fu & Fish 福&鱼

2025
Oil on Canvas
150 x 60 cm

作品的福字是从传统书法中提炼的......福的本义为保佑、赐福，用作名词又指幸福、福气，华人喜欢鱼是因为它在传统文化中具有多重象征意义，如：鱼的灵动有活力，象征着生命永驻，“鱼”与“余”又是谐音，因此鱼也象征着财富，“年年有余”的财富和幸福的象征，构成了这画的主题。
The character "福" (Fu) in this artwork is refined from traditional calligraphy. "福" originally signifies divine blessing and benediction, while as a noun, it also denotes happiness and good fortune. The Chinese affinity for fish stems from their multifaceted symbolic meanings in traditional culture. For instance, the liveliness and vitality of fish represent eternal life. Additionally, the word for "fish" (鱼, yú) is a homophone for "surplus" (余, yú), making it a symbol of wealth and abundance. The phrase "年年有余" (nián nián yǒu yú), meaning "may there be surpluses year after year," embodies the themes of prosperity and happiness, which together form the core concept of this painting.