When art bridged the barrier of language

July 11, 2016 12:00 am | Updated 05:32 am IST - NEW DELHI:

Landscapes dotted with hues of pinks and greens, life-like portraits, sculptures and bold-yet-delicate calligraphy.

The art show titled “Silk Road,” which was inaugurated in the city at the Art Spice Gallery, features a unique blend of art between the East and the West.

Much like the trade route that it is named after, the exhibition aims at exposing Chinese culture to the world by featuring works of 16 artists from China. They used their art to bridge the barrier created by language

Culture

Wei Cheng Zong, who specialises in traditional water paintings of landscapes, said: “India is a religious country. It is the birthplace of Buddhism. We want to share our culture with India through this exhibition.”

His paintings depict nature in its hierarchy, step-by-step, the lower and higher mountains come into view. Like many artists who joined the bandwagon of cultural exchange, he is inspired by Buddhist meditation.

“No boundaries”

“Art has no boundaries, it is very precious,” he added.

Lin Zong Yang, a senior artist who dabbles in calligraphy, believes that destiny played its hand again when their president Xi Jinping encouraged them to traverse the globe in order to spread Chinese culture. In 7th Century A.D., Buddhist monk and scholar Xuanzang facilitated the spread of Buddhism in China by carrying back over 600 scrolls from India. He had been sent by the King to learn about Buddhism from its country of origin.

Meanwhile, Guo Youhe, the vice-president of Beijing National Academy of Painting and Calligraphy, uses portraits to capture emotions. He said his “paintings are inspired by Indian Buddhism and very little by the West, unlike modern Chinese artists”.

Yin and yang

His artworks on display at the exhibition in the Capital include one that depicts the Yao minority community in China, while the other is a rendition of Bodhidharma, the founder of Chinese Zen Buddhism.

Traditional Chinese paintings make liberal use of black and white, symbolic of yin and yang. Artists Wang Zhong He and Liu Hengjin have mixed traditional Chinese styles of painting with the West by instilling their work with colours in order to emphasise certain elements.

Artist Yang Min, who uses calligraphy as medium of expression, said calligraphy is as old as the Chinese civilisation. He uses wooden implements he makes on his own to paint.

“It is very easy to write these words. But writing them with artistically draws upon almost 50 years of practice,” he explained.

Stating that “life is very important in ancient Chinese culture,” Fan Wen, the only female artist in the group, said she continues to revere the concept through her brass sculptures.

Discipline, evident in the works, was reiterated when artists couldn’t keep themselves away from their craft. Vincent Shi held the attention of visitors by replicating the work of Li Bai, a romantic poet who flourished during the Tang dynasty, through his calligraphy.

The exhibition will be on till July 13 at Art Spice Gallery, The Metropolitan Hotel & Spa, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

( The writer is an intern with The Hindu )

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