Page 50 - The Parker Collection: Hua Qi Min

"The Adventurer"

"The Adventurer" is one of Min's most ambitious and complex paintings. It's bold
mixture of variations of grey, black, brown and yellow tones ground themselves in an
earthy palette. The earth tones of complimentary colors coupled with the complex
composition, reveal what great art is about - an invitation to visit and revisit the
painting and, each time, see and enjoy it more and more.

The narrative decoding is a challenge, because "The Adventurer" lends itself to more
than one interpretation. This painting almost works like a Rorschach card, allowing
the viewer to project meaning into a semi-abstract form.

The central character is a unisex figure on an adventurous life journey, surrounded by
symbols of that journey. At a literal level, running horses represent the nomadic
horses of Central Asia, the conflict among tribes and the victories of Genghis Khan.
On a symbolic level, running horses represent movement, change, challenges and the
passage of time, which no one can stop. Fleeting time is represented by Salvador
Dali's surrealistic image of the melting watch. Here, Min is using running horses to
remind us of the preciousness of time and the importance to live each moment to its
fullest.

The many other detailed images suggest the literal and symbolic meaning - the sling
shot (David and Goliath come to mind), the warriors, the dance and the music. The
multiple images suggest the interaction and fusion of yin and yang or the masculine
and feminine energy reflected in this painting. "The Adventurer" welcomes change -
even conflict - as he/she travels through life facing important choices as he/she
grows and develops. The goal of life is to grow and to develop into the most evolved
person possible.