zf-enews: ChinaDaily News (970522-8)

[Big Jim]

China Daily

97 / 05 / 22 /

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1. Oil masterpieces from an ancient era
2. Notes (Page 9, Date: 05/22/97)
3. What's on (Page 9, Date: 05/22/97)
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Oil masterpieces from an ancient era

EDITOR'S note: It is generally claimed that oil painting originated in
Europe and was picked up by the Chinese in the 19th century. However,
Qin Chang'an, an art professor in the Architecture Department of
Xiamen University, maintains that China has a 3,000-year tradition of
oil painting. He supports his argument with archaeological evidence.
The following are excerpts of his thesis which is entitled "A Brief
Study of the 3,000-Year Old Tradition of Chinese Oil Painting."

Traditional Chinese oil painting, which probably began more than 3,000
years ago, is a pearl of Chinese civilization. The technology of
refining bodied oil and techniques of impasto (or of laying on paint
thickly) and layering transparent oil on images were invented in the
ancient Chinese era. A large number of figure, historical, Buddhist
and Taoist, landscape, flower-and-bird paintings have been executed in
the last millennia, which have clear-cut artistic personalities, and
reflect the strong spiritual thinking in the era in which they were
painted. It was a unique artistic genre.

Traditional Chinese paintings are usually painted on silk, wooden
boards, lacquered boards, architectural components, pottery, lacquer
wares and metal utensils.

Although most of these pieces were destroyed by wars, disasters or
faded from sheer age, extant pieces, including paintings, were
heirlooms. There is also evidence from extant ancient architecture and
historical records.

The earliest traditional oil paintings include the "Thin-Waist Woman,"
which was unearthed near Changsha, Hunan Province; and "Dragon-Riding
Official." Both are oil-on-silk pieces of the Spring and Autumn Period
(770-476 BC) and the Warring States Period (475-221 BC).

This kind of oil-on-silk painting paid homage to the dead. In
executing the painting, hemp oil was first brushed on the silk as the
base for the painting. Then images were outlined with black oil paint.

The "Thin-Waist Woman" is in profile, with slanting eyes, and a
hair-bun atop her head. Her waist is extremely thin, which is in sharp
contrast with her baggy sleeves. This reflects the propensity for
women's slim waists in the Chu State of the Warring States Period,
which covered roughly Hubei and Hunan provinces today.

A phoenix and a dragon, both being good-luck symbols, hover overhead.
This reflects the hopes of people then that the soul of the dead could
be led to heaven.

The images are made by terse lines and are abstract and decorative in
style.

In my opinion, there were only oil paintings and lacquer paintings,
instead of ink-and-wash, in China before the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD
25-220).

As is well known, oil and lacquer began to be used in remote antiquity
in China. Oil was often used as a solvent to dissolve lacquer. The
lacquer bowls and wares unearthed in Hemudu, Zhejiang Province, are
6,000 years old. And oil was applied for painting pottery as early as
5,000 to 6,000 years ago. Compared with lacquer, oil was more widely
applied because it was transparent and could therefore make colours
bright and fresh. Besides, it was humidity-resistant, antiseptic and
anti-worm-eating.

My study proves that hemp oil and perilla oil were first used in the
country. These aromatic Asian plants were first grown 5,000 to 6,000
years ago. A number of archaeological finds in Wuxing, Zhejiang
Province, and Songcheng, Hubei Province, attest to this.

In the classic book, "Rites in the Zhou Dynasty," it is recorded how
people in remote antiquity used layers of bodied oil to cover images
painted on a board.

In the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, there
were no ink or ink-and-wash paintings to speak of. The earliest ink
work was not invented until the late Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD
24). Before that time, the Chinese wrote on bamboo pieces, which were
strung up by fabric to form books, with a brush dipped in black
lacquer or paint. Later in the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25-220), ink
and paper were invented. But large numbers of bamboo pieces for
writing have been found among the unearthed relics of the Eastern Han
Dynasty. It is therefore evident that ink and paper were not widely
used by then.

What is the difference between lacquer painting, which is also
considered a treasure in Chinese civilization, and oil painting?

Lacquer in ancient times was only in two colours -- red and black. And
all other light colours became dark when they were mixed with lacquer.
So, we may safely say that all the light-coloured paintings in the
Warring States Period were oil paintings instead of lacquer paintings.

In the Qin (221-207 BC) and Han (206 BC-AD 220) dynasties, Chinese
arts, including oil painting, boomed unpreceden-tedly. Oil painting
was widely applied in architecture and in daily life. Fragments of
murals of the Qin Dynasty and the imperial bronze horses and chariots
testify to this. Furthermore, oil paintings and painted relics of the
Han Dynasty have been found in fairly large numbers.

The theory of applying oil paints began to take shape in the Han
Dynasty. It emphasizes the importance of using abstract symbols of oil
colours to indicate images in nature and reality and convey moods and
feelings. It also seeks the effects of contrast between patches of
different colours. In addition, it advocates a decorative genre
instead of the detailed depiction and colouring of the realist images.

The following examples may shed some light on ancient Chinese oil
painting.

An oil-on-silk painting in a Western-Han tomb, which was excavated in
Mawangdui near Changsha, capital of Hunan Province, in 1972, is
painted predominantly with lines of black oil paint. Besides, colour
patches are complementary to the black lines.

The central figure is the noble lady, who was buried in the tomb, in
her life time. Surrounded by maids and servants, she is depicted
sauntering along with a majestic air characteristic of a noble lady of
that time. In addition, there are also mythological images: for
example, the sun and moon. All this permeates the picture with a vivid
image of the noble lady.

Then comes oil painting on flax linen in the Northern Dynasties (AD
386-581). The piece is 1,700 years old and is now displayed at the
Gansu Provincial Museum in Lanzhou.

The linen is painted white as the base for the picture. Large patches
of colours make up large shapes, the background and curtains. Then
fluent lines of black oil paint outline the images. A noble lady
figures predominantly in the picture. She is in a loosely fitting gown
and looks slightly melancholy. In the lower left corner is the
kneeling image of a servant, who, with his up-lifted hands, presents
dishes in a lacquer container to the lady.

The colours are chiefly bluish purple, bluish gray, white, red, brown
and so on. The colours and outlines of the images are rather natural
and realistic. "Highlights" are painted on the lacquer container to
bring out the texture of lacquer.

Some of the "gate paintings" in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing
(1644-1911) dynasties are also oils. The predominant images in this
kind of paintings are of the legendary generals Qin Shubao and Yuchi
Gong. They were believed by common folk to be able to ward off back
luck and exorcize evil spirits.

In full armour and fighting gear, the two "gate deities," who are
unfailingly in pairs, are actually two huge-format oil paintings. The
pair of gate paintings in Zhangzhou, Fujian Province is executed with
colours dissolved in tung oil. The rugged strokes and large colour
patches in striking contrast combine to bring out the awesome images
of the two legendary generals and their majestic bearing.

In addition, some dilapidated "oil on boards" have been found in
Yiqing Hall in the Forbidden City in Beijing. One such painting is 2
metres high and 3.5 metres long. The figures in these paintings are in
Ming-style garments. The fluent lines and skillfully wrought figures
are reminiscent of Ming art.

Other examples abound.

In general, what the traditional Chinese oil painting is after is not
so much realist images as the underlying spirits or moods of the
figures or those of the painters themselves.

The ancient oils are almost unexceptionally in two-dimensional space
and the images are therefore outlined by decorative lines.

Expressiveness, decorative genre and symbolizing inclination combine
to make up the unique genre of the traditional Chinese oil painting in
the last 3,000 years or so.
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_Date: 05/22/97_
_Author: _

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Notes (Page 9, Date: 05/22/97)

Wang's solo show

AN exhibition of painter Wang Lifeng's Dynasty Series works will open
on Sunday at the Red Gate Gallery in Beijing's China World Hotel and
will run through June 11.

His mixed media on canvases feature casually combined symbols of past
dynasties and are yet highly decorative in style.

Wang was born in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 1962. He
graduated from the Stage Design Department of the Central Academy of
Theatre in 1986. In addition to his six solo exhibitions held in
Beijing and the United States, Wang has participated in a number of
group exhibitions including the Third National Oil Painting Exhibition
and others.

Bamboo slips

CHANGSHA -- A museum, endowed with 35 million yuan ($4.2 million) will
be built in Central China's Hunan Province to conserve and display
170,000 bamboo and wooden slips unearthed from a 1,700-year-old well
last year.

The slips, bearing 200,000 characters, are detailed records of the
political, economic, military, cultural and geographic situation of
Changsha prefecture under the Wu State during the Three Kingdoms
period (AD 220-280).

The well, 3 metres in diameter, was actually a cellar which served as
an archive of the prefecture.

Chinese archaeologists say the slips are one of the most significant
archaeological finds in China this century.

The museum, covering 10,000 square metres, will consist of three
parts: a conservation centre to store and treat the slips by a special
process; a research centre to input the information on the slips into
a computer for further study; and an exhibition hall to display some
of the slips, their historical background and the excavation of the
slips.

(CD-Xinhua)
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_Date: 05/22/97_
_Author: _

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What's on (Page 9, Date: 05/22/97)

EXHIBITIONS

Oil Paintings -- More than 80 exquisite oil paintings by Shi Chengfeng
from Henan Province is being on display at China Natinal Art Museum
through May 25.

His works give audiences a vivid portrayal of beautiful landscapes in
his hometown.

Time: 8:30am-5:00pm, through May 25. Location: China National Art
Museum. Tel: 6401-6234

Paintings from Japan -- To mark the 25th anniversary of the
normalization of Sino-Japanese relationship, a painting exhibition is
being held at the China National Art Museum through May 25.

The exhibits include Chinese paintings, prints and oils, all collected
by the Nakagawa Gallery in Japan. Some of them were done by old
masters such as Wu Zuoren, Gu Yuan, Wang Zou and Wu Guanzhong. Now
they are back in China.

The Nakagawa Gallery is one of the many galleries in Japan which
collect Chinese paintings.

Time: 9 am-4 pm, through May 25. Location: 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng
District. Tel: 6401-2252

Joint painting show -- Mu Shi and Hei Yang, Chinese painters and
members of the Blue Belly Studio, are holding an exhibition of their
selected paintings at the exhibition hall of the Cultural Services of
the Portuguese Embassy.

Time: 10 am-5 pm, through May 24. Location: Portuguese Embassy,
2-15-2, Ta Yuan Office Building. Tel: 6532-4795

CONCERTS

May flowers -- A "May Flowers" vocal concert will be presented by Wu
Meimei and Ji Zhen, two singers from the China National Traditional
Music Ensemble.

The singers will sing excerpts from the opera "Carmen" by Bizet and
the opera "Turandot" by Puccini, as well as Chinese songs.

Time: 7:30 pm, May 22. Location: the Art Salon of Holiday Inn Crowne
Plaza, 48 Wangfujing Dajie. Tel: 6512-5063 or 6513-3388 ext 1209

French string quartet -- The French Ysaye String Quartet will visit
China and launch a concert in the capital.

Founded in 1984 and named after Ysaye -- a great violinist, jazz
string quartet player and composer, the quartet is deemed one of the
finest music troupes in the world.

The group will play string quartet works by Schubert, Ravel and Wolf.

Time: 7:30 pm, May 23. Location: Beijing Concert Hall, 1 Beixinhuajie.
Tel: 6605-5812

Ready for Yanni -- Yanni, the world-renowned composer and master
artist, will to tour China in May and give performances, first in
Beijing, and then in Shanghai and Guangzhou, as part of his world tour
this year.

The concert will be held first on May 24 at the Capital Gymnasium and
on May 30-31 on the square in front of the Grand Hall of the Working
People's Cultural Palace.

Yanni will bring in a 45-member orchestra, which resembles a mini
United States because the musicians come from several different
countries.

Yanni and his band are well known for their live concerts from famous
or historic sites around the world.

Time: 7:15 pm, May 24, May 30-31. Location: Capital Gymnasium for May
17, inside the Working People's Cultural Palace for May 30-31. Tel:
6495-1005, 6831-3926, 6525-1375

OPERA

Original opera -- The Liyuan Theatre at Qianmen Hotel presents Peking
Opera in the original style. The theatre has revived the ambience of
old Beijing by setting up Ming-style tables so guests can sample
snacks during performances.

Performers are from the Beijing Peking Opera Theatre.

Time: 7:30 pm, nightly. Location: Qianmen Hotel, 175 Yong'anlu, Xuanwu
District. Tel: 6301-6688 ext 8986

Peking Opera -- The Beijing Peking Opera Troupe will premiere its new
production "The Tongrentang Pharmacy" from May 23.

The Tongrentang Pharmacy, located in the downtown Qianmen commercial
area, was established a century ago. The new play depicts the great
changes members in and out of the drugstore underwent in the face of
the Western invasion at the turn of the century.

Time: 7:15 pm, May 23-26. Location: Capital Theatre, 22 Wangfujing
Dajie, Dongcheng District. Tel: 6525-0996

Quju Opera -- Quju, a local opera in Beijing, features story-telling
to musical accompaniment.

Adapted from contemporary novelist Deng Youmei's novel of the same
title, "Snuff Bottle," a full-length Qing costume play, portrays a
snuff bottle painter in Beijing during the late Qing Dynasty
(1644-1911). It reveals the local customs, people and their lives at
the time.

Time: 7:15 pm, May 27-28. Location: Beijing Workers' Club. Tel:
6532-9574

BALLET

French ballet -- One of the major French ballet troupes, the Ballet du
Rhin, will be in Beijing to perform "La Sylphide" at the Beijing
Exhibition Centre Theatre on May 29-30.

It is the first performance in China of "La Sylphide," written by
Italian F Taglioni and was premiered at the Opera, Paris in 1832.

"La Sylphide" was also the first full- fledged romantic ballet. The
spirits and elements in it have dominated the next decades over the
world as it has been frequently performed and revived by generations
of choreographers and dancers.

Time: 7:15 pm, May 29, 30. Location: Beijing Exhibition Centre
Theatre. Tel: 6833-2941, 6603-7186, 6835-1383, 6831-5232

War ballet -- The revolutionary ballet "The Red Detachment of Women"
(Hongse Niangzi Jun) will be back on stage on May 23-25.

Acclaimed as the first Chinese contemporary ballet, the dance drama
has a unique flavour, different from Western classical ballets.

The six-act ballet, set against the background of the civil war in the
1930s, is about a group of enslaved peasant women who break their
bonds to join the Red Army and topple a cruel local landlord.

Based on a well-known film of the same name, the ballet was
choreographed by the Central Ballet of China in 1964.

Considered a top artistic achievement, it has survived decades. The
Central Ballet of China revived the show in 1992 and now includes it
in its permanent repertoire. Since then, the ballet has toured
Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Hong Kong and some cities in
the United States, meeting with high praise and performing to sold-out
audiences.

Time: 7:15 pm, May 23-25. Location: Century Theatre, 40 Liangmaqiao
Lu, Chaoyang District. Tel: 6526-5087, 6405-5512, 6402-3624, 6402-3625
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_Date: 05/22/97_
_Author: _

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