Cui Junpei's Dream of the Red Chamber Character Album

Author: Cui Junpei
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-10-01
Features: Cui Junpei is a refined and literary figure with an open and generous temperament. He has been deeply devoted to painting for nearly forty years. His works are spontaneous and effortlessly masterful, a level of artistry that is not achieved overnight. When painting figures, his works sometimes resemble a thousand monks advancing in tranquility, embodying Buddhist and Zen essence; at other times, they depict leisurely scenes of singing in the suburbs; and yet at others, they portray graceful and charming women in fine attire. Everything that overflows onto the silk and paper is free of worldly vulgarity, yet full of elegance and charm. His previous works have been published in the "Cui Junpei Painting Collection" and "Illustrated Characters from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms" as special volumes. Cui Junpei is also deeply fond of painting horses. At a glance, his horses may appear as if they are galloping with flowing manes and tails, exuding an aura of freedom; or they may seem to be leaping through the clouds, with silver hooves trampling mist, leaving even his peers in awe. Recently, Cui Junpei suddenly visited, bringing with him sixty frames of his paintings of characters from the Dream of the Red Chamber to show. He asked me to write a few words in return. As the ancients said: "A person's demeanor is like a flower's beauty, the moon's halo, the mountain's ridges, or the water's waves—all born of temperament and nature. Cui Junpei's paintings of Red Chamber characters capture this essence: the unrestrainedness of Feng Nian, the delicateness of Daiyu, the carefree nature of Xiangyun, the acidity of Jia Yucun, the of Wang Xifeng, the cleverness of Tanchun, and the joy of Jia Mu—all through temperament, and from temperament to emotion. The ancients once remarked on painting: 'Brush and ink are inherently emotionless, and those who wield them should not be emotionless. The painter captures emotion, and the viewer should not remain unmoved.' Cui Junpei has honed his skills and immersed himself in his work, capturing the essence and temperament of each character, achieving a level where his works are lifelike. Soon, he plans to compile his paintings of Red Chamber characters and publish them. Truly, this will enrich the art world and surely earn him praise in the art circles. With admiration, I hasten to write a few words—far from daring to call it an introduction.