Rongbaozhai Painting Spectrum: (112): Animal Section

Author: Feng Daizhong (Illustrator)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-12-01
Features: Feng Daizhong's depictions of tigers generally exhibit two distinctive characteristics: First, he possesses a unique understanding of tigers. His tigers are not man-eaters, nor do they fall into the cliché of "the tiger descending the mountain." The beauty of his tigers is not limited to the "aura of emperors." He paints tigers as human beings, imbuing them with human emotions and desires. In his works, tigers display affection for their offspring, maternal attachments, homesickness, drunken slumber, familial joy, and quiet sorrow. Perhaps his tigers embody the character of tigers, the spirit of humanity, and even serve as his own embodiment. He calls himself the "Master of the Tiger-Suppressing Studio," not through brute force, but through his heart, achieving a unity with the tiger's spirit. Second, his tigers possess a unique artistic language. He excels in meticulous brushwork, which, much like subduing the tiger's, avoids bold, aggressive lines or unrestrained ink splashes. Instead, he emphasizes the harmony of his delicate and precise strokes with the ethereal quality of a moonlit night. He never dares to make a hasty stroke, pushing the artistry of meticulous painting to its peak, yet the overall feel remains light and effortless. Unlike folk artists who intensify the colors of tigers, he softens and refines their hues. He rarely depicts tigers in intense motion, instead rendering them serene and gentle, infusing strength into their expressive forms and the turns of their bodies. He may not necessarily base his work on the philosophy of unity and opposition, but he indeed reflects the dialectical relationship between power and gentleness, as well as between the grandeur of the whole and the precision of the details.