Chinese Painting
Creating Landscapes of the Mind with Every Brushstroke
Chinese painting does not seek photorealistic representation but the creation of artistic conception — “learning from nature, finding the source within the heart”. It is a dialogue with the viewer’s soul, inviting you to step into the painting and wander within the spiritual landscape crafted by the artist.
Delving into Two Major Systems
- Meticulous Painting (Gongbi): Depicts subjects with precise, delicate brushwork, using layered application and brilliant yet elegant colours. It requires immense patience and focus, revealing true skill in the finest details; often portrays figures, birds-and-flowers, and architectural subjects.
- Freehand Painting (Xieyi): Emphasises the spontaneous expression and summarised depiction of brush and ink, pursuing the "marvellous in the resemblance and non-resemblance". With bold, sweeping strokes and dripping, lustrous ink, it focuses on conveying the spirit of the subject and the artist's subjective emotion; landscape and bird-and-flower subjects are particularly common.
Highlights of Our Painting Programmes
- "Travelling While Lying Down" Landscape Workshop Series: Combines landscape painting instruction with classical literature (e.g., landscape poetry, travelogues), allowing students to appreciate the recluse aspirations of ancient scholars through brushwork practice.
- Master Demonstration Livestreams: Regularly invite painters for public demonstrations, broadcast live online for remote learning by art enthusiasts.
- Thematic Creation Camps: Such as "Four Gentlemen Special Camp" or "Blue-Green Landscape Study Camp", offering intensive, in-depth study and creation on specific themes.
- 'Dialogue with Nature' Sketching Outings: Organises trips to local country parks, heritage sites, or wetland parks for sketching, guiding students to observe nature and transform it into imagery on paper.
