Watercolor Zhangjiajie Works Collection

Author: Liu Dawei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: The way the painter views mountains seems different from ordinary people. The works created under his unique aesthetic perspective often carry his own personality traits. When it comes to Zhangjiajie, no one doubts the beauty of its natural scenery. However, the subjective nature of aesthetic preferences makes it difficult for everyone to reach a unified praise when witnessing the dawn and sunset in Zhangjiajie. Of course, this phenomenon is normal in the art world—everyone’s opinions would be wrong if they were all the same. Expressing the beautiful natural scenery of Zhangjiajie in brush and ink is the aspiration of landscape painters, but the Zhangjiajie depicted in brush and ink ultimately differs from the Zhangjiajie in nature in terms of focus. The use of brush and ink in Chinese landscape painting has its own aesthetic charm, but this uniqueness does not refer to the arbitrary creativity of those unfamiliar with the principles of painting. When something is deemed "too unlike" and praised as having outstanding individuality, thereby being hailed as highly "artistic," one must exercise caution and not blindly follow suit. The highest aesthetic form of Chinese landscape painting is the same as the most ordinary one—it is "pleasing to the eye." Perhaps this aligns with the saying that "the greatest truth lies in simplicity." To suppress our own intuitive perceptions in order to conform to the "artisticity" of art is not a rational choice for the audience. Instead, to be true to yourself and perceive these works through the cultural sensibility you have been immersed in within Eastern culture is your only legitimate aesthetic approach.