Person of the day, week, month, year...

[Allan Rahbek]

Hi B S

Do you say that artists have to read H. C. Andersen

[SB Wang]

Hi Allan:
Yes, remember "The nightingale" and Sorolla's words:
Get out and get busy!

The great poet Qu Yuan
http://home.att.net/~bobcindy/Qu_Yuan.html
was killed himself at the same place called Miluo where is Ren Bishi's hometown. A giant statue to Ren Bishi is there.
There are at least three statues are to my family connection:
One of the best known heroines, Zhao Yiman
http://www.marxists.org/glossary/peo...um/index39.htm
is Ren's sister-in-law. A 1950's movie is about her. Sadly, her son was severely persecuted in the Cultural Revolution, at the land his mother fought for.
Xiang Jingyu, the best feminist of revolution, treated my grandmother as her sister.

[Allan Rahbek]

Hi S. B.

I find the ink drawing tradition to be outstanding. Do you know the painter Liu Zhongdong from the Guangdong Province

[SB Wang]

Hi Allan:

I don't know him. But I read that a Sweden lady falls in love when she saw a Chinese farmer who paints at Guiling.

And she brought him back to her country.

[SB Wang]

Allan:

You say China has 5,000 year's history? yet, Qu Yuan's image is one of only three of ancient Chinese figures in Chinese Art Gallery, in oil section. Counted less than 6% of total portraits of famous person.
Why?

* political repression and direction. (1957-1977)
* oil painting is harder to execute than Chinese painting.
* poor condition of artists, also political reason.
* weakness of artists.
* historical painting is more difficult.

Ancient figure is demigod.The viewers have imagination of their own from literature, stage, picture story book and more closely, in Chinese painting, a sketchy look. It may not be easily accepted if suddenly a more real image appears. Similar to analyze Bouguereau's image of fairy in "Art Through the Ages".

Even Repin's historical paintings were criticized.

[SB Wang]

Chinese painting website
http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_artqa/node_431.htm

[Allan Rahbek]

There is something fascinating by the Chinese way of painting. When it is at its best it seem to be as natural as breathing or writing. But of course it take a lifetime to get there !!!!!!!!

I have put the picture of the Beautiful Horse Riders at the desktop to set the standard.

Thanks, Allan