Butterfly Lover South China Tiger
Butterfly Lover 2014 black and neon orange Biro drawing
South China Tiger Quadriptych
The South China tiger quadriptych includes Yin and Yang, Butterfly Lover, Butterfly Lover Zhu Yintai and Cherry Blossom Girl. All four artworks illustrate The Legend of the Last South China Tiger written by Jane for Save Wild Tigers (SWT) a UK conservation charity.
The quadriptych symbolises the fate of the South China tiger subspecies, which is thought to survive only in captivity, with many tigers bred in tiger farms to supply the illegal trade in fur and body parts. This body of work was also created to raise awareness of the plight of tigers and conservation organisations like SWT and Born Free that are working tirelessly to ensure all remaining tiger subspecies continue to play with butterflies.
Butterfly Lover is the second artwork of quadriptych and illustrates Part Two of the legend:
Part Two
Amoy had survived and thrived under the protection of the Tigress Warriors and grown into the most magnificent male tiger that ever lived in China. He loved to roll on his back in the sunshine and play with butterflies. One day two enchanted butterflies appeared. Their fluttering wings played the most beautiful music. The notes enveloped Amoy and glistened on his sleek fur. Suddenly, the butterflies began to transform and the beautiful face of Zhu Yingtai appeared on the wings of the first butterfly. Amoy was so entranced by her beauty he began to dream of a mate. Then the face of the most beautiful tigress he could ever imagine emerged on the wings of the second butterfly. Zhu Yingtai and Liang Shanbo, the Butterfly Lovers, began to materialise through his stripes. Amoy smiled and rolled over to dream of the tigress and the survival of his species.
Butterfly Lover drawing is inspired by the epic Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto, Chen Gang and He Zhanhao, 1959 (梁祝小提琴协奏曲 the Chinese title appearing on the fur of Amoy’s shoulder). The face of the heroine Zhu Yingtai from the old Chinese legend Butterfly Lovers is that of actor Faye Wong.
Butterfly Lover, Cherry Blossom Girl, a book of The Legend of the Last South China Tiger and Weeping Durga were auctioned in London and Malaysia at Save Wild Tigers events to raise funds for wild tigers.