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New world and new ink-wash
THE revolution in traditional ink-wash painting is continually trying to establish a new language.
Sometimes traditional techniques illuminate modern themes. Sometimes technique is explored in depicting traditional themes. Sometimes both technique and subject matter are infused with new ideas.
The exhibition "New World, New Ink" underway at the Mingyuan Art Center features both ancient and modern combined in unusual ways.
It features most of the active ink-wash artists from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan, such as Jin Weihong, He Xi and Chen Xinmao.
There's another ink-wash exhibition of the same title in town, says curator Xie Hai. "But I am confident that ours is a special one, you won't see the kind of things you are familiar with."
Xie selects young artists who blend the ancient Chinese art form with new media, such as installation and video.
"Throwing away the bonds and limits of traditional ink-wash painting is easier said than done," Xie points out. "So I prefer those artists who retain the spirit of traditional ink-wash paintings in a new form."
For example, the fish series created by He Xi, a young local artist, combines traditional technique with an innovative art concept.
In one work, a sturgeon-like fish about the same diameter as his cylindrical jar, hangs suspended above the bottom containing concealed rock formations. The light-hued black and white, typical colors used in traditional ink-wash paintings, don't appear to be a cliche. Instead, the artist infuses the work with his own reflections on the ancient genre.
"I am like that fish in the bottle," he says with a smile, "No matter how hard I swim, I find I am always stuck in that bottle.
"But I am not pessimistic, and I accept the fact. So you see, my fish swims elegantly and enjoys its status," He says.
Date: through August 16, (closed Mondays), 9am-5pm
Address: 1199 Fuxing Rd M.
Sometimes traditional techniques illuminate modern themes. Sometimes technique is explored in depicting traditional themes. Sometimes both technique and subject matter are infused with new ideas.
The exhibition "New World, New Ink" underway at the Mingyuan Art Center features both ancient and modern combined in unusual ways.
It features most of the active ink-wash artists from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan, such as Jin Weihong, He Xi and Chen Xinmao.
There's another ink-wash exhibition of the same title in town, says curator Xie Hai. "But I am confident that ours is a special one, you won't see the kind of things you are familiar with."
Xie selects young artists who blend the ancient Chinese art form with new media, such as installation and video.
"Throwing away the bonds and limits of traditional ink-wash painting is easier said than done," Xie points out. "So I prefer those artists who retain the spirit of traditional ink-wash paintings in a new form."
For example, the fish series created by He Xi, a young local artist, combines traditional technique with an innovative art concept.
In one work, a sturgeon-like fish about the same diameter as his cylindrical jar, hangs suspended above the bottom containing concealed rock formations. The light-hued black and white, typical colors used in traditional ink-wash paintings, don't appear to be a cliche. Instead, the artist infuses the work with his own reflections on the ancient genre.
"I am like that fish in the bottle," he says with a smile, "No matter how hard I swim, I find I am always stuck in that bottle.
"But I am not pessimistic, and I accept the fact. So you see, my fish swims elegantly and enjoys its status," He says.
Date: through August 16, (closed Mondays), 9am-5pm
Address: 1199 Fuxing Rd M.
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