Chinese painting. Issue 2

Author: Shi Feng, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: In the history of Chinese art, perhaps no period has enjoyed as much creative freedom as our current era. Artists have been granted unprecedented liberation. Especially when contrasted with the Cultural Revolution, this creative freedom appears even more precious. However, art is merciless—if the artist does not cherish it, does not restrain himself, and even disregards the standards left by tradition, then the greater the freedom, the smaller the artistic realm. Creative freedom and the artistic quality of the work often form an inverse relationship. Chinese painting has been able to stand independently in the world of art precisely because it is shaped by a unique culture, exists with its distinctive qualities, and especially because its brushwork is unrestrained, varied, and rich in the connotations of local culture. Therefore, painters should view foreign culture from the perspective of the development of contemporary cultural progress, adopt an open mind, selectively incorporate it, and use it to enrich the expressive language of Chinese painting, reflecting the spirit of the times—not weakening traditional culture, nor replacing or assimilating it. Chinese art has always been open, progressive, and inclusive. In the face of challenges, we must have enough confidence. Absorb the essence of traditional culture, perceive the spirit of the times, and showcase the cultural connotations of our own art. This is also a process of transformation and more importantly, the essential path to advancing and flourishing Chinese painting.