Zheng Yikun Oil Painting Selection

Author: Zheng Yikun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-08-01
Features: Zheng Yikun paints the most goldfish and paints them the best, which brings him joy but also some troubles, as some peers privately mock him for only painting goldfish. I don’t think so. Chinese history has already seen painters who specialized in plum blossoms, orchids, or bamboo. In modern times, Xu Beihong, skilled in painting horses, Qi Baishi, skilled in painting shrimp, and Li Keran, skilled in painting oxen—why can’t the lacquer painting world have a Zheng Yikun who specializes in fish? Besides, he doesn’t just paint goldfish. If we talk about the shortcomings or imperfections in Zheng Kun’s works, I think it lies in being too rigorous and lacking looseness. Some less important details would be better if painted with more freedom, boldness, and expressiveness. I believe Mr. Yikun is now aging, and his skills have reached a level of perfection—should he pursue the high realm of "doing as one pleases without breaking the rules" or "the law of no law"? I wonder if this is appropriate?