You may think Chinese water and mountain paintings are all about ink and paper. But a visit to Beijing's Red Gate Gallery will whisk you into a whole new world of porcelain, cloth and oil. The most avant-garde and the true tradition are mixed in one display.
From a distance, it's nothing more than a brightly colored canvas, but a closer look presents a vivid story. In 1997, Huang Yan started a new trend by painting on large pieces of cloth. While porcelain with flowery patterns remains a favorite source of inspiration with many traditional Chinese artists, Huang Yan has put a novel spin on the old theme.
The medium of paint offered Huang a refreshing and dynamic new sincerity: He let his creativity run wild on the blank canvas. A narrow strip of cloth produces a visual shocking effect. The painter reveals the thoughts behind the picture.
You may find it hard at first to accept these seemingly eccentric works, but your initial resistance will soon fade as you find yourself gliding effortlessly on a dreamy journey into contemporary art.
Huang Yan's ideas may even spur you to give painting a try sometime in the future, because it's the innovative spirit that really counts.
(CCTV.com November 19, 2003)
