HUGH MOSS (B.1943) Imbiber, 2019

HUGH MOSS (B.1943) Imbiber, 2019 Ink on cloud-dragon paper, scroll Inscribed and signed Master of the Water, Pine and Stone Retreat, with three artist's seals 180 x 47.8cm (70⅞ x 18⅞in) Footnotes: 莫士撝　法杖聚會　設色雲龍紋紙本　鏡心　二Ｏ一九年作 款識：One of the hermits who turned up for the Walking Staff Symposium of 1297 was from the remote mountains of Fu. He soon became known as the Impenetrable Mountain Man. Whatever we discussed, his attitude always seemed ambivalent, as if he couldn't make up his mind about any particular subject. He did explain, when pressed, that it wasn't his mind that was indecisive, it was the languages in which all communication in the dusty world was conducted that were indecisive, despite their attempts at precision. Quite rightly his attitude expressed the inadequacy of intellectual means to pierce the ultimate mystery, which can only be grasped when one transcends the intellect. When it came to carving a new staff to join the game we had decided to play amongst ourselves during the gathering, it, too was ambivalent. It appeared to be an entirely naturalistic staff, largely even entirely natural but its head could be interpreted as something more particular. To me it resembled someone raising a cup of plum wine to drink; to the Semi-Lunate Hermit, who had an affinity with mischievous little demons such as served Zhongkui, the queller of demons and often painted them, it was one such clinging to the top of the shaft. There were other interpretations but when asked the Impenetrable Mountain Man responded only that it was probably just a walking staff. Inscribed by the Master of the Water, Pine and Stone Retreat at the Garden at the Edge of the Universe as the summer turns to autumn in the fruitful year 2019. 鈐印：水松石山房、攜杖老人、蓮花（肖形印） 註：本幅題於「宇宙邊際·無名之庭」，為水松石山房主人莫士撝於2019年夏秋之交所作，筆法清潤。莫士撝為著名中國藝術學者與收藏家，長年致力於東西方美學交匯的探索，於書畫創作亦卓然成家。畫紙為雲龍紋紙，另裱於淺色宣紙上，予人古意盎然之感。 題跋所述，追溯至一二九七年的一場「法杖聚會」，有一來自黟山的隱者，眾稱其為「不可測山人」。此人言語晦澀，旁人莫測其旨，蓋因其深信世間一切言語，雖志在精確，然終難窮究真理。唯有超越語言與思辨，方能接近終極奧義。畫中所繪杖首，諸說紛紜：或見高士舉杯，品梅花釀之趣；或見小鬼攀附杖端，應是鍾馗麾下玩物；或為自然枯木，不假雕飾。至於「不可測山人」，則稱其為「杖耳。」 此幅杖影斜欹，似人舉盞，題畫寓言，機鋒潛隱。畫文相契，意在筆外，是為東西合璧筆墨語彙之佳構。 Lot to be sold without reserve. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing