Jizi and His Art in Contemporary China: Unification (Chinese Contemporary Art Series)

This interdisciplinary study promotes the thesis that some contemporary Chinese ink artists succeed in using principles of traditional Chinese aesthetics to convey the union of self with nature, others and the universe. The investigation is a case study of the writings and paintings of Jizi, an ink-wash artist in Beijing, who combines images of icy mountains, Tibetan landscapes, cosmic vistas, and enclosures of personal existence. Jizi’s success in expressing the unification of these dimensions is confirmed by developing and applying an interpretation of Jing Hao’s classic description of the authentic image, which resonates with the vitality of nature. To find words for resonance with visible nature, the inquiry extends to such writers as Li Zehou, Arthur Danto and Maurice Merleau-Ponty. In short, an account of authenticity in Chinese ink painting is offered experimentally as a means for assessing whether contemporary Chinese artworks are expressive of Chinese philosophy and culture. The text includes stylistic comparisons with artists such as E.C. Escher, Guo Xi, Jia Youfu, Liu Guosong, Rene Magritte, Piet Mondrian, and Xu Bing. The result is an appreciation of the healing influence of Chinese ink art in a global culture that is vibrant, complex, diverse and affirming of the present. In this rigorous, far-reaching, and original analysis of contemporary ink art painting, Brubaker and Wang focus our attention on the work of one independent painter, Jizi, whose work exemplifies an uncanny marriage between ink art and contemporary concerns. In the central chapters, Brubaker persuasively argues that in this work Jizi captures principles essential to traditional Chinese aesthetics articulated in terms of wholeness, emptiness, and visibility that enable the works to express the unification of the self with nature and the universe as a whole. It does this through forms that are innovative and part of artistic practices and discourses that are becoming increasingly global. Mary Wiseman, The City University of New York This important publication focuses on the evocative ink wash paintings of an artist who has, over the course of decades, demonstrated an unwavering commitment to exploring the technical, formal, philosophical and experiential dimensions of his chosen medium. The essays, commentaries and critical reflections collected in this volume present unique perspectives on Jizi's practice, significantly contributing to the growing body of scholarship on the continuing vitality of the ink wash tradition in the global contemporary. Dr. Wenny Teo, The Courtauld Institute of Art Through an in-depth study of the ink painting practice of contemporary Chinese artist Jizi, the authors discover Chinese ink painting’s philosophical perspectives, cosmic foundations, and contemporary possibilities. They also uncovered a way to enter into the artist’s rich and profound spiritual world; through Jiazi’s expansive visual patterning and refined spiritual imagery, he activates a long and great cultural tradition. Yu Yang, Central Academy of Fine Arts This interdisciplinary study promotes the thesis that some contemporary Chinese ink artists succeed in using principles of traditional Chinese aesthetics to convey the union of self with nature, others and the universe. The investigation is a case study of the writings and paintings of Jizi, an ink-wash artist in Beijing, who combines images of icy mountains, Tibetan landscapes, cosmic vistas, and enclosures of personal existence. Jiziĺls success in expressing the unification of these dimensions is confirmed by developing and applying an interpretation of Jing Haoĺls classic description of the authentic image, which resonates with the vitality of nature. To find words for resonance with visible nature, the inquiry extends to such writers as Li Zehou, Arthur Danto and Maurice Merleau-Ponty.℗l In short, an account of authenticity in Chinese ink painting is offered experimentally as a means for assessing whether contemporary Chinese artworks are expressive of Chinese philosophy and culture.℗l The text includes stylistic comparisons with artists. The result is an appreciation of the healing influence of Chinese ink art in a global culture that is vibrant, complex, diverse and affirming of the present. ℗l In this rigorous, far-reaching, and original analysis of contemporary ink art painting, Brubaker and Wang focus our attention ℗lon the work of one independent painter, Jizi, whose work exemplifies an uncanny marriage between ink art and contemporary concerns. . In the central chapters, Brubaker persuasively argues that in this work Jizi captures principles essential to traditional Chinese aestheticsĺlarticulated in terms of wholeness, emptiness, and visibility--that enable the works to express the unification of the self with nature and the universe as a whole. It does this through forms that are innovative and part of artistic practices and discourses that are becoming increasingly global. Mary Wiseman, The City University of New York ℗l This important publication focuses on the evocative ink wash paintings of an artist who has, over the course of decades, demonstrated an unwavering commitment to exploring the technical, formal, philosophical and experiential dimensions of his chosen medium. The essays, commentaries and critical reflections collected in this volume present unique perspectives on Jizi's practice, significantly contributing to the growing body of scholarship on the continuing vitality of the ink wash tradition in the global contemporary. Dr. Wenny Teo, The Courtauld Institute of Art ℗l Through℗lan in-depth study of the℗link painting℗lpractice of℗lcontemporary Chinese℗lartist℗lJizi, ℗lthe authors℗ldiscover℗lChinese ink paintingĺls philosophical perspectives, ℗lcosmic℗lfoundations, and contemporary℗lpossibilities. They also uncovered℗la way to℗lenter into the artistĺls rich and profound spiritual world;℗lthrough℗lJiziĺls℗lexpansive visual patterning and refined spiritual imagery, he℗lactivates℗la℗llong and great cultural℗ltradition. Yu Yang, Central Academy of Fine Arts ℗l ℗l This interdisciplinary study promotes the thesis that some contemporary Chinese ink artists succeed in using principles of traditional Chinese aesthetics to convey the union of self with nature, others and the universe. The investigation is a case study of the writings and paintings of Jizi, an ink-wash artist in Beijing, who combines images of icy mountains, Tibetan landscapes, cosmic vistas, and enclosures of personal existence. Jizis success in expressing the unification of these dimensions is confirmed by developing and applying an interpretation of Jing Haos classic description of the authentic image, which resonates with the vitality of nature. To find words for resonance with visible nature, the inquiry extends to such writers as Li Zehou, Arthur Danto and Maurice Merleau-Ponty. In short, an account of authenticity in Chinese ink painting is offered experimentally as a means for assessing whether contemporary Chinese artworks are expressive of Chinese philosophy and culture. The text includes stylistic comparisons with artists. The result is an appreciation of the healing influence of Chinese ink art in a global culture that is vibrant, complex, diverse and affirming of the present. In this rigorous, far-reaching, and original analysis of contemporary ink art painting, Brubaker and Wang focus our attention on the work of one independent painter, Jizi, whose work exemplifies an uncanny marriage between ink art and contemporary concerns. . In the central chapters, Brubaker persuasively argues that in this work Jizi captures principles essential to traditional Chinese aesthetics--articulated in terms of wholeness, emptiness, and visibility--that enable the works to express the unification of the self with nature and the universe as a whole. It does this through forms that are innovative and part of artistic practices and discourses that are becoming increasingly global. Mary Wiseman, The City University of New York This important publication f ocuses on the evocative ink wash paintings of an artist who has, over the course of decades, demonstrated an unwavering commitment to exploring the technical, formal, philosophical and experiential dimensions of his chosen medium. The essays, commentaries and critical reflections collected in this volume present unique perspectives on Jizi's practice, significantly contributing to the growing body of scholarship on the continuing vitality of the ink wash tradition in the global contemporary. Dr. Wenny Teo, The Courtauld Institute of Art Through an in-depth study of the ink painting practice of contemporary Chinese artist Jizi, the authors discover Chinese ink paintings philosophical perspectives, cosmic foundations, and contemporary possibilities. They also uncovered a way to enter into the artists rich and profound spiritual world; through Jizis expansive visual patterning and refined spiritual imagery, he activates a long and great cultural tradition. Yu Yang, Central Academy of Fine Arts This interdisciplinary study promotes the thesis that some contemporary Chinese ink artists succeed in using principles of traditional Chinese aesthetics to convey the union of self with nature, others and the universe. The investigation is a case study of the writings and paintings of Jizi, an ink-wash artist in Beijing, who combines images of icy mountains, Tibetan landscapes, cosmic vistas, and enclosures of personal existence. Jizis success in expressing the unification of these dimensions is confirmed by developing and applying an interpretation of Jing Haos classic description of the authentic image, which resonates with the vitality of nature. To find words for resonance with visible nature, the inquiry extends to such writers as Li Zehou, Arthur Danto and Maurice Merleau-Ponty. In short, an account of authenticity in Chinese ink painting is offered experimentally as a means for assessing whether contemporary Chinese artworks are expressive of Chinese philosophy and culture. The text includes stylistic comparisons with artists. The result is an appreciation of the healing influence of Chinese ink art in a global culture that is vibrant, complex, diverse and affirming of the present. In this rigorous, far-reaching, and original analysis of contemporary ink art painting, Brubaker and Wang focus our attention on the work of one independent painter, Jizi, whose work exemplifies an uncanny marriage between ink art and contemporary concerns. . In the central chapters, Brubaker persuasively argues that in this work Jizi captures principles essential to traditional Chinese aesthetics--articulated in terms of wholeness, emptiness, and visibility--that enable the works to express the unification of the self with nature and the universe as a whole. It does this through forms that are innovative and part of artistic practices and discourses that are becoming increasingly global. Mary Wiseman, The City University of New York This important publication focuses on th e evocative ink wash paintings of an artist who has, over the course of decades, demonstrated an unwavering commitment to exploring the technical, formal, philosophical and experiential dimensions of his chosen medium. The essays, commentaries and critical reflections collected in this volume present unique perspectives on Jizi's practice, significantly contributing to the growing body of scholarship on the continuing vitality of the ink wash tradition in the global contemporary. Dr. Wenny Teo, The Courtauld Institute of Art Through an in-depth study of the ink painting practice of contemporary Chinese artist Jizi, the authors discover Chinese ink paintings philosophical perspectives, cosmic foundations, and contemporary possibilities. They also uncovered a way to enter into the artists rich and profound spiritual world; through Jizis expansive visual patterning and refined spiritual imagery, he activates a long and great cultural tradition. Yu Yang, Central Academy of Fine Arts Preface to “Chinese Contemporary Art Series” 6 Acknowledgments 8 Contents 10 About the Author 12 Part I 13 Wang Chunchen 13 Chapter-1 14 Conflicts and Confrontations: The Journey of China’s Contemporary Chinese Ink Paintings 14 Part II 20 David Brubaker 20 Chapter-2 21 Questions 21 2.1 Questions and Debate 21 2.2 Globalization and Success: The Search for Chineseness 25 2.3 “Chineseness” and Chinese Philosophy: Embodiment and Meanings 29 2.4 The Chapters: Jizi and His Art 31 Chapter-3 35 Who is Jizi? 35 3.1 Practices: Circumstances and Self-Cultivation 35 3.2 Longguan 35 3.3 Xuanhua 38 3.4 Red Flag Commune 41 3.5 Ideas: Aesthetics and Picturing Unification 44 Chapter-4 49 Paths of Contemporary Chinese Ink Art 49 4.1 Jizi’s Paintings: The Path to Dao of Ink 50 4.2 Originators: Jia Youfu, Liu Guosong, and Xu Bing 59 4.2.1 Jia Youfu 59 4.2.2 Liu Guosong 61 4.2.3 Xu Bing 62 Chapter-5 69 Philosophy of Chinese Ink Art 69 5.1 Jing Hao and Authentic Images 70 5.2 Qi and Sensuous Noumenon 72 5.3 Qi and Field of Experiences 74 5.4 Xiang and Zhi: Image, Constitutive Emptiness, and the Visible 76 5.5 Painting: Creating the Truth 80 Chapter-6 83 Spiritual as Mountains and Cosmos 83 6.1 Unification and Uniqueness 83 6.2 Images of the Spectacle of Sentient Being 88 6.3 Painting Heritages: Retaining and Absorbing 90 6.4 Comparison: Guo Xi’s Early Spring 95 6.5 Constructed Cosmos: Primal Nebula No. 5 and Mondrian 96 Chapter-7 102 Chinese Ink Art and Global Changes 102 7.1 Field of Soul Series: Spirit of the Universe, Healing, and Social Commentary 102 7.2 Chinese Aesthetics: Globalizing the Difference 109 7.3 Intentional Authentic Illegibility and Anti-Writing 111 7.4 Forging New Art Histories and Avant-Gardes 112 Appendix The Dao of Ink and Dharma Objects—On Jizi’s Paintings 118 An Individual Soul? A Heavenly Task? 121 Ink Paintings: Existence and Transcendence—A Review of Jizi’s Art 122 Synopsis 122 The Seething World of Jizi’s Paintings—As viewed on a Macintosh Computer in a Manhattan Apartment on Riverside Drive 134 Jizi: A Bridge Between Chinese Traditional Art and the Present 136 The Benevolent Person is Boundless, His Artworks Impressive and Natural—A Discussion of the Essentials of Jizi’s Paintings 138 The Dao Inspires Creation of the Image: Mind is the Source for Creating the Artistic Realm 139 Partial Remodeling and Total Reconstruction 140 A Solemn Sublimity, An Illusional Brilliance 142 The Creative Power of Ink Painting Revisited—On Jizi’s Dao of Ink Paintings 144 The spirit of ink paintings is forever set in the solidity of mountains.-Inscription 144 A Compilation of Jizi’s Reflections on Art 147 Image Credits 155 Bibliography 156 Index 158 Front Matter....Pages i-xi Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Conflicts and Confrontations: The Journey of China’s Contemporary Chinese Ink Paintings....Pages 3-8 Front Matter....Pages 9-9 Questions....Pages 11-24 Who is Jizi?....Pages 25-38 Paths of Contemporary Chinese Ink Art....Pages 39-58 Philosophy of Chinese Ink Art....Pages 59-72 Spiritual as Mountains and Cosmos....Pages 73-91 Chinese Ink Art and Global Changes....Pages 93-108 Back Matter....Pages 109-155