Yao Xinfeng's Freehand Figure Works - Famous Artists' Famous Paintings

Author: Jia Dejiang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-10-01
Features: Lotus, fish, boats, bridges, water buffalo, village girls in spring, children in summer—Xinfeng paints directly from the landscape of water towns, where the water is brimming, the fur is fluffy, and everything is lush green, full of vitality. Xinfeng depicts people mostly as innocent youths, quiet ladies, and determined elders, never painting those in a hurry. His works are either full of childlike charm, rustic tranquility, abundant elegance, or simple refinement—all embodying the charm of Jiangnan and harmonious sentiments. Looking at Xinfeng's paintings, we are reminded of all the beautiful lines we remember about Jiangnan—"Jiangnan is where lotus can be picked, the lotus leaves are as vast as fields," "the lotus moves as the fishing boat glides," "gentle breeze and fine rain need no return," and "the sound of 'ei nei' turns the mountains and waters green." What best summarizes Xinfeng's paintings is the classic line from Suzhou Pingtan: "Fragrant lotus in green water moves in the breeze, cool breeze in the water makes the summer long."
Facing his paintings, we engage not just visually but also aromatically, auditorily, and tactilely. That familiar lotus heart even evokes my sense of taste—the subtle sweetness. Isn’t this the very blessing of life as bestowed by God! The many simple yet abundant lives in this world are an exquisite nourishment for our weary nerves and rough emotions. Xinfeng deeply understands the brushwork and artistic essence of Chinese painting, yet his works differ from tradition. His imagery is simple, avoiding stillness, and he breaks away from the common practice of using large areas of negative space to highlight figures, revealing a broad perspective and rich life experience. Sometimes, the role of lines is deliberately weakened, yet it "brilliantly highlights color and texture, with ink traces barely visible," thereby enhancing the vibrancy and texture of the images and conveying emotions more effectively.
From the perspective of composition and structure, Xinfeng’s works inherit tradition while selectively absorbing techniques from Western painting. He employs various linear and geometric divisions and combinations, showing both the inheritance and transcendence of tradition in depicting images, framing scenes, and expressing emotions. His works are modern yet accessible to both refined and popular tastes, forming his own distinctive style.
As a fellow native of Xinfeng, I have written millions of words describing the lives of youths in Jiangnan’s water towns, so Xinfeng’s paintings feel especially familiar to me, often sparking my creativity and deep understanding. I’ve often heard that some art is spatial, while others are temporal. Yet, when facing Xinfeng’s works, I begin to doubt such judgments. In my mind, these paintings are fragrant, refreshing, lively, melodious, and expressive. The girl picking lotus sings a song of dripping wet mountains, the lazy cat pats a sweet snore, and those two boys playing chess had just fought just minutes ago. I think, perhaps art doesn’t happen in space and time but in a higher dimension—the process of spiritual pursuit. People use space and time to approach art, but these dimensions can also hinder such approach. Thus, people need another force to achieve the "divine touch" and succeed. This "divine" is hard to explain, a bit mystical, but it must arise from humanistic enlightenment and a forgetful pursuit of beauty. People realize themselves through what they pursue—what you pursue, that is your essence. Since people are different, their art reflects different qualities of beauty. Thus, we can understand Xinfeng’s humanistic ideals and aesthetic inclinations in his works: the beauty of nature, the beauty of customs, the beauty of human emotions, and the beauty of rationality.
What’s even more precious is that Xinfeng persistently seeks the essence of life and deeply celebrates the song of existence. Beauty is, in fact, a human attitude toward the world and life. Since paintings are the artist’s discovery of life and existence, we may discover Xinfeng’s understanding and love for the world and life in his works. Thus, we also become discoverers. Such discovery is a cultural enjoyment, a spiritual nourishment, and a spiritual elevation. Yes, Xinfeng’s works allow us to "nourish the heart like a fish."