ZHAO SHAO'ANG (1905-1998), Thoughts in London and Cold Sparrow

ZHAO SHAO'ANG (1905-1998)
Thoughts in London and Cold Sparrow

Two album leaves, mounted and framed, ink on paper (Thoughts in London), ink and colour on paper (Cold Sparrow)
Each leaf: 11 5/8 in. x 14 1/2 in. (29.5 cm. x 37 cm.)
‘Thoughts in London’ entitled and signed with one seal of the artist.
‘Cold Sparrow’ inscribed and signed with one seal of the artist.
Both dated autumn dingwei year (1967)

These paired works of calligraphy and painting date from autumn 1967. During that year Zhao participated in an exhibition in London's Tyron Gallery, entitled Animal Artists of the World.

A translation of Zhao’s poem reads as follows:

Thoughts in London
My mind follows the falling leaves, thoughts all adrift;
The splayed branches from a few trees reach into the dusk sky;
The cold fog has already shrouded my long road home;
I am startled, hearing a cold sparrow chirp in front of my window.