Art World. Volume 3

Author: Jiang Xiwu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-01
Features: Shandong Du Yu once wrote about "editorial planning" (see the end volume of "Art World Talk"), commenting on the first and second volumes of my humble compilation with equal praise and criticism. The opinions were indeed very valuable; however, the so-called "grasping the main idea" was actually a matter of hardship, as securing submissions was not easy. It is like a fine meal—first, the side dishes must be prepared, but whether the combination is appropriate depends on the raw materials. The publication of "Art World" was often delayed, largely due to the difficulty of assembling the right mix at the right time. How can outstanding works be sought when everything is not yet in place? I sincerely hope that both writers and readers can pay attention.
When this volume's texts were completed, I reflected on the "main idea" issue, looking at the beginning and the end, and recalled Li Tang, one of the four masters of the Southern Song dynasty in painting. He once wrote a poem:
"Clouds amidst mist, rain over the rapids—easy to see, hard to create; had I known it wouldn’t please the eyes of the times, I would have spent more on rouge to paint peonies."
This was Li Tang’s complaint, lamenting the "preference for beauty" of his contemporaries. It seems that "preference for beauty" has remained unchanged through the ages. This is, to some extent, an unavoidable matter. Today, there is talk of "visual impact," and "attracting attention" is in vogue, seemingly unstoppable. However, if we reflect further, despite the complaints, Li Tang still faced the challenge and painted his "clouds amidst mist, rain over the rapids." After all, the "rouge peonies" that cater to the times have not yet appeared. This is something we should emulate.
From that time to today, can talented artists still stand firm, with fewer concerns about the "eyes of the times" and less focus on the "rouge peonies," to paint their "clouds amidst mist, rain over the rapids"? Even if it is difficult to achieve at first, more complaints are better than none. It is even better to say that complaints bring hope.
Over the years, "Art World" has been nothing but complaints—perhaps a certain kind of positioning. It can be said to align with the positioning of catering to a "niche audience." This "complaint" is often criticized as "speaking from a high horse" or "mere talk." What can be said while standing can hardly be expressed while bending over; "talk" is not necessarily "misleading." The Chinese intellectual tradition has long been one of "discussing but not governing." "Speaking from a high horse" and "talk" can still produce meaningful discussions, precisely because they lack the of "governing."
As the saying goes, "the" (observers are clear-sighted)—why not? "Art World" has always been supported and valued by Mr. Wang Yuanhua. Today, Mr. Wang has further facilitated its publication, and the third volume of "Art World" has finally settled at Shanghai Education Press. This is a triple blessing!