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by: Ernesto
Apomayta
Because of different instruments,
materials and cultural background, Chinese paintings have their own
image and content in comparison to other types of paintings like Western
paintings. Unique
appearance of Chinese Painting owes much to the use of the Chinese
writing brush and the Chinese paper (rice and silk). There are four
essential elements used in the creation of Chinese Painting, the brush,
ink, paper, and the ink stone. Lacking any of them the job cannot be
done.
The most important factors for
Chinese Painting are the special pedagogy, the close relationship with
the painter’s personality and the unique Chinese philosophy. They are
trained not only to convey the objects but also express the mood and the
spirit of the subject. The Chinese also believe that the painting is the
expression of the painter’s knowledge and temperament. In this way,
Chinese Painting becomes something much more than art.
The most essential philosophy of
China is the unity of Heaven, Earth and Human Beings. What the Chinese
Painters are trying to express is not what meets the eye, but their
attitude to the Great Nature. The Chinese painter has a profound love
and admiration for nature. It is part of their culture, religious
practices and their need to depend on nature to survive.
In relationship to human and
animal figures, the Chinese painter utilizes the forms he finds in
nature, such as ovals, circles, and geometric lines which are found also
found in Chinese calligraphy. Thus, all Chinese paintings whether they
are landscapes or the human figure are painted with the same movement,
rhythm, and harmony that is used when drawing the forms of calligraphy.
Calligraphy is a form of art, even more revered and honored than all
other painting.
In the same theme they may spend
hours contemplating and drawing inspiration from the figures of nature
such as humming birds with their fragile wings, the robust legs of the
cricket, and the fascinating form of the praying mantis. From the minor
or simple creatures that are chosen as subjects of art work, we can see
how they enjoy the nature and the love they devote to the most humble
things.
The Chinese painter finds it
offensive to contemplate and draw the human figure by itself. Human
beings are part of the surrounding heavens and earth. They are all
together. That is why Chinese paintings are simple in composition and
full of harmony, overall balance and peace with all of creation. They
are interested in the mood and spirit. |
