After learning about Eastern painting, American painter Graves said: “I realized that art and nature are landscapes of the soul, from which we can perceive the essence of human existence.” When you are fortunate enough to encounter these masterpieces, you will gain insight into the essence of Eastern art.
“Bi Shang Zhi Gong (Skillful Brushwork)” is a masterpiece of Chinese flower and bird painting that appears fresh and clear at first glance, profound in meaning after viewing, and unforgettable after further contemplation. The composition is extremely simple: in the center of the painting is a uniquely shaped bird with a flat, long beak and a spotlessly white belly. It sits comfortably and alone on the curved, thick trunk. Its eyes are ethereal and deep, as if completely focused; its posture demonstrates that wherever it is, is the focal point.
Upon careful observation, you will find that everything in the painting is in a state of colorful transformation. The bird’s head and back are painted with two blocks of ink that are close in shade, creating a melting effect, with the ink color seemingly still wet and spreading around.
The trunk’s ink lines are clear and distinct, resembling a tree yet not quite a tree, as if constantly changing in the impermanence. At the bottom left of the tree, a branch twists and turns out, creating an S-shaped composition in the painting that is still in motion. The painting also uses color sparingly, with only a warm and friendly purple-brown color applied to the bird’s beak and the trunk.
This painting has a fascinating story behind it. It was created in 1982 during the filming of a movie in Sanhe, Sichuan. The painting captures an on-the-spot portrayal of a real-life scene. The artist used ink sparingly, treating it as if it were as precious as gold, while still showcasing his exceptional skills. At the time, the News Film Studio of China was producing a documentary exclusively about the artist, Master Yi Yungao (H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III).
The cameramen and other observers witnessed a wild duck landing on a withered tree trunk. Master Yi Yungao quickly picked up his brush and swiftly completed the entire painting. By the time the wild duck took flight again, the painting had already been finished. Furthermore, the artistic mastery embodied in this artwork is extraordinary. It not only preserves the elegance, purity, and high-quality of traditional paintings but also introduces a new style—expressing the artistic conception of returning to original purity and simplicity. The artist, with an unfettered hand and mind, applies his most mature skills without the slightest attachment and with minimal, natural brushstrokes.
This masterpiece Chinese painting by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is rich in literary atmosphere and varied in layers. It does not merely depict the external world, but rather it serves as a true manifestation of the inner spirit, transcending the natural material form to open up the world through the illumination of life’s spiritual light, reflecting the spiritual world. Appreciating the painting can reveal the pure world behind it, where everything, including the self, is forgotten, remaining untainted.
This painting is part of the permanent exhibition at The International Art Museum of America, located in the heart of San Francisco.
Bi Shang Zhi Gong – Skillful Brushwork
Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2023/10/26/bi-shang-zhi-gong-skillful-brushwork/
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Peace LiLy 