No Artist's Signature

‘Tai Ping You Xiang’is the title of a recent work by Zeng Fanzhi featuring a peaceful young elefant entering a Zeng Fanzhi signature landscapes. It is also the title of the exhibition at ShanghART's Beijing gallery space during the whole summer of 2008. ‘Tai Ping You Xiang’ originates from a poem by ancient Chinese poet Lu You (southern Song dynasty, 1125-1210). It means peace, stability and happiness. ‘Xiang’ is elephant in English, it shares a same sound with ‘auspicious’ in Chinese; therefore, it symbolizes auspiciousness in traditional customs. The traditional pattern is a picture of an elephant carrying a vase on its back, and the water in the vase can bring good fortune to people and is a symbol of peace.