Chinese painting world. 60th generation - Ji Lianbin

Author: Ji Lianbin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: Chinese painting is currently in a period of significant development, and publications about Chinese painters and their works are also experiencing a surge in growth. Among various artist anthologies, selecting works based on the birth era of the artists and focusing on the outstanding figures of that generation is an innovative approach. As the ancient saying goes, "Each generation produces its own talent," this perspective does not fully capture the essence of the "generation" in terms of time or the characteristics of artistic talent across generations. Moreover, the selected artists in this collection have already undergone rigorous academic scrutiny over the years through exhibitions, dissemination, and critical evaluation, gaining widespread consensus in the art world and continuous attention from society. Reuniting their representative works once again allows us to see a cohesive "generation" in spirit. Chinese painting is at a critical juncture, both facing opportunities for growth and challenges in quality. In my view, the primary external issue is the negative impact of commercial values on art during market economy activities, which, while raising the overall foundation of Chinese painting, has also led to a widespread inclination toward the mundane. The internal issue lies in the imbalance, relaxation, and loss of academic standards in the art world, as well as the imitation of styles, the stagnation of artistic innovation, the imitation that threatens originality, and the decline of the lower echelons into so-called elites—all of which erode the intrinsic value of Chinese painting. Therefore, observing the artistic characteristics of emerging painters and understanding their creative strengths is of paramount importance for comprehending the state of the entire art scene. As for the individual traits of each artist, they should be left to the subjective interpretations of the audience.