Exciting and Innovational New Approaches to Art and Painting in China

The 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing did more thanTom explains:' Traditional western landscape
stimulate interest in sport, they also renewedpainting, unlike Chinese style painting requires a
interest in China's rich cultural heritage. As in theunified perspective; it does not use realistic
18th and 19th centuries, all things oriental are againshadow. Western art nearly always depicts where
becoming ‘a la mode’.light falls and uses shadow. Traditional Chinese
This renewed interest must have been especiallypainting requires that the ink effects are good,
highlighted in those many western artists whothe composition is good, the artistic conception is
over the years have immersed themselves in thegood. But, the perspective is not the most
paintings and sculptures of the ancient Chineseimportant part of the painting. Now I sometimes
masters, and who in most cases are stilllike to use a little shadow because it adds depth,
attempting to create something akin to theirwhich diverts from tradition.'
essential calmness and beauty for themselves.Still he believes that before experimenting
Every artist knows how important it is to studywestern artists must understand the basic rules
techniques employed by the finest painters of old,of what makes a good Chinese landscape. He
searching to discover how they achieved theiruses the phrase Shan shui hua, which translates
masterpieces. Hopefully modern artists are equallyas mountain, water, picture. The composition
as aware of the need to be conscious of up toshould be an elongated Z or S shape and should
date trends, new materials and advances.have right and left symmetry, branching out from
 In order to find out exactly how art in China isthe centre. Many of his paintings are large and
developing and what is new there I spoke to thesquare, though he does also paint scrolls, fans and
artist, Tom Zhang, who’s atmospheric andsmaller pictures which are snapped up by both
challenging landscapes are now finding their wayChinese buyers and visiting tourists. 'The paper
into the private collections of discerning buyersshould be full,' he told me, 'though it is important
world wide.to balance space with painted area.' He talks about
From his early days this young man knew heblack as being the bones of his pictures, while
wanted to paint, that he was determined, despitecolour is the meat. Sometimes he feels a subject
all odds, to make his mark in that field. As a boyonly needs bones so he uses no other colour. His
on his parent’s farm in Shandong province hischoice depends on his feeling for what he is
days were spent weeding amongst rows ofpainting. 'Most important', he says, 'is that a good
vegetables. At night he painted, winning at the ageChinese painting holds the essence of its subject.
of 8 years a prize in an open competition. Even You should have to use your mind to look at a
then his artistic ability and imagination were aheadpainting properly. You need to look at a painting
of his years. His entry, based on the traditionaland think horse, mountain or water. It should not
story of the monkey king, challenged all othersbe like a photograph, it should leave room for
and won.some imagination, it should evoke feelings.' He told
 At the age of 17 he moved to Beijing carryingme he thinks his paintings demonstrate the
with him the princely sum of 700 yuan (therelationship between thought and existence and
equivalent of £50) donated by an uncle, andbetween spirit and matter. 'They do not need to
nothing else - other than high hopes for thebe realistic because the painting contains the
future. He told me he did not seek fortune,essence of its subject, therefore it is real.'
merely an opportunity to develop as an artist. Again he quotes a traditional Chinese Proverb:
 Finally managing to fund himself through'The personality decides the quality of the painting'.
University in 2003 by working in restaurantWhen first starting to paint he tells me he used
kitchens, car parks, and museums, his artistictraditional natural unbleached rice paper, but he
future is now without a doubt assured. Two of hisdiscovered this type of paper can only be used
University teachers were well know Chinesefor certain colours and limited what he could do
artists: Wang Ming Ming and Wang Wen Fang.with his paint. Now he prefers Xuan paper made
Tom told me how grateful he is to them forin Xuanchen and Jingxian in Anhui Province. It is
introducing him to a different approach to hissoft and tensile in texture and resistant to insects,
work and for providing him with an opportunity toabsorbs ink or paint evenly and is good for long
integrate new ideas. Beside these teachers hepreservation. It is made from rice straw, tree
found his chance to experiment and develop hisbark, and bamboo pulp. His extremely wide
own unique slant on traditional Chinese painting.collection of brushes vary in size, shape and bristle
Now, aged 28, he lives by his painting. Recently hematerial and are used dependent on what he is
branched out to paint murals/frescoes in bars andpainting. Some are made from wolf hair, sheep
restaurants; his most recent in the Happy Dragonwool, bear hair, horse hair and mouse hair. He
Bar in Beijing,even owns a brush made from a baby's first hair!
Tom's gallery and studio are located close toUnlike in traditional Chinese paintings he uses
Tiananmen Square in a traditional Hutong district instrong colours for his work He describes clothing
the independent Leo Hostel which now appears inthe pictures in beautiful colours, in the way the
the Lonely Planet Guide to Beijing. The gallery issome people need to be clothed in beautiful
ideally situated in a typically animated Chineseclothes. His manner of using colour is well
street with food sellers, a Beijing Operaillustrated in one of his latest projects. This is what
restaurant, small shops and restaurants.he has called his China Red series. These painting
Yet despite his busy gallery Tom travelsare inspired by the red walls to be found in
frequently throughout China, mounting exhibitionsBeijing's Forbidden City and temples. In China red
and continuing to paint his dramatic landscapes onis considered to be a lucky colour, though at one
site or taking photographs which he thentime only the Royal Family and temples were
translates into paintings back in his gallery. He haspermitted to use it. Red was a symbol of
painted many areas of China: Xian, Nanjing,authority; it can depict a part of Chinese culture.
Yunnan and Shangri-La which is near the borders Today Chinese families use red for good luck,
of Nepal and Tibet, and also the Eastern Chineseespecially when celebrating the Chinese New Year.
coast.They use red lanterns and decorations, give
 On his return to Beijing he enjoys chatting tomoney and gifts in red envelopes and dress in a
people who visit his gallery and tourists staying inred coat or jacket. Many people use red on their
the hostel. He is happy to demonstrate hisfront door to attract good luck.
methods and explain his philosophy to them. AtAnd speaking of good luck. Tom feels he has
the rear of the gallery is an area where hebeen very lucky in his life because each time he
serves tea to prospective clients.has been in a difficult situation somebody has
 Last year saw a breakthrough in histurned up to help him continue with his painting. He
development when he was invited to exhibit inalso believes that those who work hard and have
Europe. First at the prestigious Gallerieheart will eventually reach their goal. 'This is a
MétemorphOZes at the Domaine du PrieuréChinese tradition,' he says. His goal is not to make
in Valaire and then a one-man exhibition in Tours.money, though he does not despise it. He wants
Both these exhibitions were outstandinglypeople to understand his philosophy, and his own
successful and later he spent time in Paris whereunderstanding of the subject, when they look at
he painted his 'Paris By Night' using for the firsthis paintings. His need is to develop his work into
time what I tend to think of as his 'fusion' style ofsomething totally individual and internationally
painting.recognizable as Tom Zhang.