Drunken Eyes and Youmu -- Talking and Painting about Opera

Author: Xu Hongquan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: This book consists of traditional Chinese opera character paintings by the renowned Chinese opera painter Gao Madé and appreciative essays by the well-known artist and writer Xu Hongquan. It includes over 80 paintings of traditional Chinese opera created by Mr. Gao, with one essay for each artwork. The content covers opera, history, actors, backstage anecdotes, and the art of storytelling through art. It offers a vivid and elegant perspective on life through the lens of the stage. It is truly the best illustrated book on traditional Chinese opera for the contemporary era. In the 1960s, Mr. Gao became deeply devoted to Chinese opera and depicted opera characters in the form of Chinese painting. His brushwork is concise, unrestrained, and full of life, capturing the essence of the characters with a touch of profound charm that lingers in the mind. Xu Hongquan's writing is sharp yet sincere, discussing opera, art, and life, filled with genuine emotions, blending solemnity and humor, and radiating an aura of vitality. Mr. Wang Zengqi once remarked, "We can call Madé a 'dream painter.'" Life is like a play, and a play is like a dream of life. Gao Madé and Xu Hongquan can be said to be "dreamers" who are intertwined with dreams and gain deep insights. Their longing and reverence for tradition also resemble a moving elegy, a sincere tribute to the past, which continues to move us today, swaying with their thoughts. This book consists of traditional Chinese opera character paintings by the renowned Chinese opera painter Gao Madé and appreciative essays by the well-known artist and writer Xu Hongquan. It includes over 80 paintings of traditional Chinese opera created by Mr. Gao, with one essay for each artwork. The content covers opera, history, actors, backstage anecdotes, and the art of storytelling through art. It offers a vivid and elegant perspective on life through the lens of the stage. It is truly the best illustrated book on traditional Chinese opera for the contemporary era. In the 1960s, Mr. Gao became deeply devoted to Chinese opera and depicted opera characters in the form of Chinese painting. His brushwork is concise, unrestrained, and full of life, capturing the essence of the characters with a touch of profound charm that lingers in the mind. Xu Hongquan's writing is sharp yet sincere, discussing opera, art, and life, filled with genuine emotions, blending solemnity and humor, and radiating an aura of vitality. Mr. Wang Zengqi once remarked, "We can call Madé a 'dream painter.'" Life is like a play, and a play is like a dream of life. Gao Madé and Xu Hongquan can be said to be "dreamers" who are intertwined with dreams and gain deep insights. Their longing and reverence for tradition also resemble a moving elegy, a sincere tribute to the past, which continues to move us today, swaying with their thoughts.