“Yellow Crane Tower” Hanging Scroll

I went to Wuhan to see the tower, then drew from memory on the way home: tower above, river below, the bridge crossing it.

The upturned eaves took the most work — one line off and the whole building collapses. The city skyline behind is brushed in pale ink, so the precision of the tower has distance behind it.

The red sun came last, weighing down the upper right corner and giving the picture the air of early morning.

I painted a tower, but what I wanted was the wind over the river.

— Gao Xinuo · studio note