Swan Lake

2020, acrylic on canvas, 50x60 cm /// Mary Zhang (1967) is a Chinese architect, urban planner, and artist. She has lived in Riga for several years, organising numerous solo exhibitions and participating in various art festivals. Primarily working in illustration, she specialises in fast-drawing techniques and sketching. This artwork is part of the Riga Series. The artist has chosen Ķengarags, one of Riga’s districts, as the setting for her painting. Swans serve as the central motif, which is also reflected in the title of the piece. The graceful birds are depicted in the foreground, symmetrically arranged in the central part of the composition. The objects are rendered with clarity, and the artist has paid particular attention to the nuances of detail, especially in the depiction of the surrounding environment. The painting is created in a style that captures a fleeting moment, a specific place, and its atmosphere - characteristic of the sketching technique. The surface is smooth and even, with the paint applied in a thin, balanced layer. /// The artist's signature and dating are on the left side of the painting.