Maitreya. Eighteen Arhats. Bodhidharma

Author: Huang Xi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-06-01
Features: In today's era of reform and opening up, artists have a vast space to express their creative thoughts and forms. Meanwhile, the general audience also has ample freedom to choose their aesthetic preferences. While some are avidly discussing modern art, a significant portion of people also show a strong interest in traditional Chinese figure painting. The figure paintings in this series employ traditional brushwork and modeling, emphasizing lines, realism, and capturing the essence. I believe that after viewing these figure paintings, readers will be deeply attracted by the authentic charm of traditional art.
In today's era of reform and opening up, artists have a vast space to express their creative thoughts and forms. Meanwhile, the general audience also has ample freedom to choose their aesthetic preferences. While some are avidly discussing modern art, a significant portion of people also show a strong interest in traditional Chinese figure painting.
Figure painting is an important component of Chinese painting, with a long history spanning thousands of years. Through the continuous convergence and erosion of the long river of time, it has gradually formed a rich and noble tradition. This tradition is not only reflected in form and technique but also in subject matter.
One of the most popular subjects among the people is the depiction of deities and Buddhist figures. Taoism and Buddhism have been practiced in China for over two thousand years. However, the folk reverence for deities and Buddhist figures has far exceeded the boundaries of religion. People's admiration and worship of these figures stem more from their noble qualities—purity, kindness, bravery in the face of justice, the ability to dispel evil and uphold righteousness, and their generosity in helping others.
Therefore, painters did not depict deities and Buddhist figures in ethereal celestial realms. Instead, they portrayed them as ordinary people found everywhere in the mortal world. This made these deities and Buddhist figures more relatable to the common folk, who found them even more and real.
Another category of subject matter is the famous figures from China's thousands of years of history. These include just and wise emperors and generals, heroic national figures with glorious military achievements, and erudite scholars and literati. These pivotal figures in China's historical development are also idols and role models in the hearts of the people. Their stories are often depicted in figure paintings and passed down through generations.
The third category consists of extremely ordinary folk customs from the past, such as fishing, woodcutting, farming, and studying, as well as playing the qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting, or picking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence or carrying a hoe under the moonlit sky. These aspects of life, which have gradually faded in today's modern society, were only accessible to the people during the "peaceful and prosperous" years in history. People still enjoy viewing these paintings because they provide a sense of fulfillment and indulgence in the stability and harmony of contemporary society.
The figure paintings in this series employ traditional brushwork and modeling, emphasizing lines, realism, and capturing the essence. I believe that after viewing these figure paintings, readers will be deeply attracted by the authentic charm of traditional art.