墨染山河书写时代新篇章——杨炳湘线上作品展|丹青|书法|书画|杨炳湘

Yang Bingxiang, born in 1947, is a member of the China Artists Association. He previously served as the deputy editor in chief of the Poetry and Literature Society. In 1997, he was selected as one of the first "Top 100 Chinese Artists" by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the China Artists Association. The works have won more than ten awards in domestic and international art exhibitions, and are collected by professional institutions and collectors at home and abroad such as the National Art Museum of China. The painting style is natural and fresh, emphasizing artistic conception and style, advocating "changing according to the environment and empathizing with the painting". Biographical compilation of "Dictionary of Contemporary Chinese Calligraphers and Painters" and "World Celebrity List"; He has published personal art collections such as "Selected Works of Yang Bingxiang, a Top 100 Painter" and "Yang Bingxiang's Collection of Modern and Contemporary Chinese Famous Artists".

Shao Dazhen comments on Yang Bingxiang's works

Yang Bingxiang rose to fame very early, and from her paintings, we can see that she is full of emotions and also paints with passion. Her landscape painting style is very broad, this one is very lyrical, this one is very peaceful, this one is very gentle... Regardless of the form, it is obvious that she painted it. Her works originate from life and are higher than life, giving vivid shapes, density and harmony, a balance of hardness and softness, elegant style, and ancient charm.

November 21, 2023

Brushwork, freehand brushwork, landscape painting, lyrical expression

——Appreciating Yang Bingxiang's freehand landscape paintings

Wen/Shao Dazhen

The Qing Dynasty scholar Shi Tao wrote in his book "Hua Shuo: Fa Zhang": "Those who paint are the ones who shape all things in heaven and earth. How can they form without brush and ink?" This refers to the landscape painting that "shapes all things in heaven and earth." If brush and ink are removed, how can it form? How can it become a painting. Master Shi Tao learned after warning that landscape painting is a form of plastic art, and without the emotions and ink charm of the brush, it is impossible to express the form and spirit of all things in the world. Indeed, as the foundation of the historical tradition of Chinese painting, brush and ink are the artistic expression of Chinese painting. The magnificent history of Chinese painting can be said to be a vast world of the evolution and expression of brush and ink. Brush and ink are not only abstract languages that can be independently appreciated, but also expressive language that can be associated with the theme, mood, and content of expression. In fact, brush and ink are neutral in nature, but their expression can be divided into poor and beautiful. However, a painting is not just beautiful with ink and brush, the key lies in whether the painter expresses it beautifully and whether the technique is high or not. Only with exquisite, sophisticated, and aesthetically pleasing brushwork can a painting emit charm and have infinite appeal. This is also a true insight confirmed by the works of outstanding painters throughout history.

The landscape paintings created by painter Yang Bingxiang are lively, fresh, simple, and lyrical, with a unique style. The brushwork and layout of his works embody the techniques of traditional and modern art. His brushwork is powerful, deep, elegant, graceful, and vigorous, while his ink is warm, rich, moist, and simple. The composition is a combination of reality and virtuality, creating an ethereal and ethereal atmosphere. The hills and valleys become more and more varied, and the atmosphere becomes more and more majestic. The wide waters near the coast, the stone shadow layer cliffs, and the Yunling village houses all exude a vast and profound aura, with profound imagery. There is a pen in the ink, a pen in the ink, a large density and sparse, a light and thick, and a strong and robust accumulation that deepens and empties, presenting a sense of spiritual exchange.

Reading Bingxiang's works, one cannot help but be moved by her exquisite brushwork, and feel pleasure and enjoyment in spirit. Works such as "Mountain Family," "Light Boat," "Sunset," and "Fishing" are characterized by their tranquility and simplicity, as well as the simplicity of the people's hearts and the sincerity of their hometown. They are filled with a peaceful and tranquil world, shedding the hustle and bustle, noise, and disputes of the mundane world, and restoring the tranquility and peace of the soul. Works such as "Yunling Mountain Residence," "On the Ridge," and "Mountain Family" have simple and clean colors, blurred textures and textures, distinct layers, deep and solemn images, and profound and long-lasting artistic conception. Perhaps this is the place where Bingxiang's heart yearns for poetic dwelling and spiritual retreat! The myriad atmosphere in the painting has long departed from the traditional framework of the ancients, and is actually a spiritual structure of great emptiness, great reality, and hazy mist. The dazzling dots and lines, clumps of ink and wash, and the natural and skillful exposed white cloth create a charming contrast, expressing a kind of ethereal image of mountains and rivers, giving people the beauty of "there is an image outside the image" and endless contemplation. In one sentence, the pen participates in the creation of nature, and has gained the true charm of mountains and rivers.

Shi Tao once said, "The true charm of mountains and waters lies in the spiritual energy of my brushwork when I enter the wilderness to see them, whether real or illusory. When I start, others cannot find and stop them, and this truth is not limited to ancient and modern times." It seems to be the beauty of Yang Bingxiang's landscape paintings - the combination of the natural "real or illusory" and the painter's "spiritual energy of the brushwork," making it impossible for people to "find and stop them," leaving them all natural. The north, south, east, and west are like the present, in autumn, winter, spring, and summer, born under the pen, far away from the mountains and near the ridges, full of vitality, seeing the Dharma in freedom, seeing the wind spirit in emptiness, and seeing nourishment in the vastness, just as Liu Xie said in "Wenxin Diaolong • Shensi": "Amidst the recitation, the sound of pearls and jade is heard; before the eyebrows and eyelashes, the colors of the wind and clouds are curled up." It is precisely because of the ease with which the subject matter is conceived that in expression, there is "the author, although following the rules, operates flexibly, without quality or form, like flying and moving. The ink is light and faint in height, shallow and deep in texture, and natural in literary style" (Jing Hao's "Record of Brushwork") The aura is concentrated between the scales, and is full of natural charm amidst the clear mountains, clear waters, and moist rocks.

Upon closer inspection, Yang Bingxiang's freehand landscape art exhibits the following prominent characteristics:

One reason is that her landscape paintings have extremely strong emotional colors, with a random and occasional painting method. The creative process is based on the true feelings of mountains and rivers, as well as the artist's strong personal emotions, which opens up the pursuit of novelty and change in the overall structure, shape, space, perspective, color tone, atmosphere, and artistic conception of the picture, emphasizing the rhythm, melody, and tension of visual senses. The focus of painters is on constructing abstract combinations that do not completely detach from natural characteristics and have a unique and independent appearance. Her works always seek the formal beauty of the composition relationship and pattern changes between lines (branches or rocks), points (leaves and moss), and surfaces (rivers and mountains), opening up new aesthetic fields and providing new aesthetic experiences.

The second reason is that her brushwork is extremely loose and natural, with the beauty of withered vines and falling rocks. She uses strokes to outline, rubs and dots to write, with a high degree of spontaneity. Her brush and image, meaning and environment, heart and painting enter an unobstructed realm, as the saying goes, 'follow your heart's desires without exceeding the norm'. The state of freedom depicted in this brushwork is the result of years of pure skill and experience by the painter. It comes from ancient traditions, but is different from them. It strengthens the transformation, starting and ending, reflecting the belt, the circle, and the firmness and softness of the brushwork, thus forming a distinct personality language. It weakens the depiction and strengthens the expressiveness, making painting move towards "inner needs" (Kandinsky's words) and towards spiritual expression. The cost is to preserve the appearance without easily resembling it, and the harvest is the freedom to express one's emotions and to obtain the elephant of mountains and rivers (divine resemblance), which makes the mind and objects inseparable, and highly integrates the natural nature of mountains and rivers with our hearts. Heavy leads to stagnation, light leads to drifting. Only by being "loose" and "heavy" and "light" can one be flexible and agile. Shi Tao said in his book "Painting Quotes" that "if the wrist is not weak, then the painting is not right" and "if the brush is extremely heavy, it needs to be lifted onto the paper to eliminate the strong energy", which is also the way of using the brush. Yang Bingxiang's painting techniques precisely reflect the beauty of "wrist weakness," "pen movement," and "flying on paper.

The third is that Yang Bingxiang's use of ink has reached the realm of "the combination of pen and ink is for mist" and "pen without pen, ink without ink, painting without painting, I am free" (Shi Tao's words). This realm is called nature. Looking at the current popular art styles, they all clearly embody the beauty of purity. However, Yang Bingxiang, on the other hand, deviates from the norm by not focusing on self-cultivation or carving, but instead using a natural and unadorned art style, as well as a wet and dry world of ink and brush, to lead viewers into a special aesthetic realm. It is not a painting commonly seen in the world, nor is it a scenery commonly seen by people. It is profound and mysterious, strange and quiet, beautiful in chaos without losing elegance, and wonderful in wandering without losing clarity.

As a contemporary landscape painter, Yang Bingxiang deeply understands his mission and responsibility. She broke free from the traditional limitations of drowsiness with the conscious consciousness of modern people, and rationally moved towards modern aesthetics and the era of artistic consciousness. His creation firmly grasps the essence of Chinese painting, which regards Tao as the beauty of heaven and earth. When painting, he is not limited to the form and color of specific objects, but has the intention of a painter rather than a mere object. "The painter dances his brush, aiming for the Tao of heaven. That is to say, her art has gained freedom and casualness from nature, entering the exploration of the "essence of art". In this regard, Yang Bingxiang's landscape painting has entered a new stage and realm, and she has achieved gratifying new results.

Looking at the history of Chinese painting, masters such as Dong Qichang, Shi Tao, Zhao Zhiqian, and Huang Binhong have all achieved one artistic peak after another through their profound academic cultivation, extraordinary talent, and exquisite brushwork, using theoretical knowledge and inheritance to explore the rich traditional core of their predecessors. They have also surpassed their predecessors in practical skills. Yang Bingxiang's way of landscape art has evolved from the early tradition of "drawing from nature" that emphasizes the beauty and authenticity, to the traditional practice of "blending emotions and scenery" that emphasizes form without losing its resemblance, and finally to the traditional practice of "freehand brushwork" that expresses emotions without being restricted by form. It is closely related to his years of obsession with traditional principles and methods, as well as his contemplation of Eastern cultural spirits such as Laozi and Zhuangzi philosophy and Taoist philosophy. Based on this profound accumulation of traditional education, painters are able to combine their powerful brushwork with the image of "painting shadows but not shapes", creating a unique and ethereal atmosphere outside of heaven and earth through the brushwork of sparse slopes. This is reflected in their independent and proud personality and spirit. We believe that with the passage of light and the hard work of painters, great achievements will inevitably be made.

January 10, 2017

(The original article was published on May 19, 2017 in the Literary and Art Daily. The author of this article is the director of the Art Criticism Committee of the China Artists Association, the editor in chief of the World Art Magazine, a professor at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, and a renowned art critic.)

为迎接建国七十五周年，歌颂党和祖国的伟大成就，展现全国各族人民凝聚新力量，筑梦新时代的奋进精神，文艺新声专题以“翰墨颂祖国，筑梦新时代”为主题的线上书画作品展。

书画作为中华民族传统文化的瑰宝，承载了千百年来中华儿女的深情厚意和智慧传承，展现着国家的文化底蕴与艺术魅力。书法以端庄大气的笔墨传达着文化的底蕴，绘画以丰富多彩的色彩勾勒出人们内心的热情与情感。本次展览作品将展示60余位老师的精品力作，涉及国画（人物、山水、花鸟等题材）、书法、油画、非遗等类型，丹青敷彩，翰墨飘香。每一幅作品都承载着艺术家们对祖国的热爱和对美好生活的向往，用笔墨勾勒出一幅全国人民七十五载风雨同舟，携手前行共创新时代的历史画卷。

书画艺术不仅是一种审美体验，更是一种文化传承。在这次展览中，我们不仅可以看到艺术家们的精湛技艺，还可以感受到他们对传统文化的深刻理解和创新发展的探索精神。通过这些作品，我们看到了一个古老而又充满活力的中国，看到了一代又一代中国人不懈追求梦想的身影。在建国七十五周年之际，这场线上书画作品展不仅是对过去辉煌成就的回顾，更是对未来美好前景的展望。它激励着我们在新的征程上，继续发扬艰苦奋斗、勇于创新的精神，为实现中华民族伟大复兴贡献自己的力量。

在历史的长河中，七十五年不过是弹指一挥间，但对于一个国家来说，却是风雨兼程、砥砺前行的光辉岁月。为迎接中华人民共和国成立七十五周年，歌颂党和祖国的伟大成就，展现全国各族人民凝聚新力量、筑梦新时代的奋进精神，“文艺新声”专题特举办以“翰墨颂祖国，筑梦新时代”为主题的线上书画作品展。书画作为中华民族传统文化的瑰宝，承载了千百年来无数艺术家的心血与智慧。每一幅书画作品，都是一段历史的记忆，一种文化的传承，一份情感的寄托。在这次展览中，我们将看到全国各地的书画爱好者用他们的笔墨丹青，描绘出对祖国的深情厚谊和对未来的美好期许。

“翰墨颂祖国，筑梦新时代”线上书画作品展，是一场视觉与心灵的盛宴。它让我们在欣赏精美艺术品的同时，也深刻体会到祖国的繁荣昌盛和人民的幸福生活来之不易。让我们怀着感恩之心，珍惜当下，共同谱写新时代的华丽篇章。愿这次展览能带给每一位观众美的享受和精神的洗礼，也希望更多的书画爱好者加入到我们的行列中来，用你们的才华和热情，为祖国的美好未来增添一抹亮丽的色彩。

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, sing praises to the great achievements of the Party and the motherland, and demonstrate the spirit of the people of all ethnic groups in the country to unite new forces and build a new era of dreams, an online exhibition of calligraphy and painting works with the theme of "Ode to the Motherland with Calligraphy and Ink, Building a New Era of Dreams" will be held under the theme of "New Voice of Literature and Art".

Calligraphy and painting, as treasures of traditional Chinese culture, carry the deep affection and wisdom of Chinese people for thousands of years, showcasing the cultural heritage and artistic charm of the country. Calligraphy conveys the cultural heritage with dignified and elegant brushstrokes, while painting outlines people's inner passion and emotions with rich and colorful colors. This exhibition will showcase the masterpieces of more than 60 teachers, covering traditional Chinese painting (characters, landscapes, flowers and birds, etc.), calligraphy, oil painting, intangible cultural heritage, and other types. The works will be painted in red and green, with the fragrance of calligraphy and ink. Each work carries the artists' love for the motherland and their yearning for a better life. With pen and ink, it outlines a historical picture of the people of the country who have been together for 75 years, moving forward hand in hand to create a new era.

Calligraphy and painting art is not only an aesthetic experience, but also a cultural heritage. In this exhibition, we can not only see the exquisite skills of the artists, but also feel their profound understanding of traditional culture and exploratory spirit of innovative development. Through these works, we can see an ancient and energetic China, and see the figure of generations of Chinese people unremittingly pursuing their dreams. On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, this online exhibition of calligraphy and painting works is not only a review of past glorious achievements, but also a prospect for a bright future. It inspires us to continue to carry forward the spirit of hard work and innovation in the new journey, and contribute our own strength to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

In the long river of history, seventy-five years is just a blink of an eye, but for a country, it is a glorious time of wind and rain, forging ahead. To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, sing praises to the great achievements of the Party and the motherland, and demonstrate the spirit of the people of all ethnic groups in the country to unite new forces and build a new era of dreams, the "New Voice of Literature and Art" special theme is holding an online calligraphy and painting exhibition with the theme of "Ode to the Motherland with Calligraphy and Ink, Building a New Era of Dreams". Calligraphy and painting, as treasures of traditional Chinese culture, carry the hard work and wisdom of countless artists for thousands of years. Every painting and calligraphy work is a memory of history, a cultural inheritance, and an emotional attachment. In this exhibition, we will see calligraphy and painting enthusiasts from all over the country using their brush and ink to depict their deep affection for the motherland and their beautiful expectations for the future.

The online exhibition of calligraphy and painting works titled 'Ode to the Motherland with Calligraphy and Ink, Building Dreams for a New Era' is a visual and spiritual feast. It allows us to appreciate exquisite artworks while also deeply realizing the hard won prosperity of our motherland and the happy life of the people. Let us cherish the present with a grateful heart, and together write a magnificent chapter of the new era. May this exhibition bring beauty and spiritual baptism to every audience, and we also hope that more calligraphy and painting enthusiasts will join us, using your talents and enthusiasm to add a bright color to the beautiful future of our country.