By Zhu Xinjian

There Aren’t So M any M asters

By Zhu Xinjian

I t is my viewpoint that contemporary artists are not likely to be masters.The reason is that what contribution they will make or already have made and what influence they exert cannot be perceived currently.

Say Van Gogh,he had not been as influential as he was after his death. Or Cezanne,who we enshrine as the father of modern art,if we compare him as a football player,it was when he was to retire that the whole game started to demonstrate its significance. He inspired the generation of Matisse, who later inspired Picasso and artists alike.Tremendous changes happened later were all connected to Cezanne’s personal activity.

If there had been no Cezanne,we could not imagine what modern art is like.It doesn’t mean that the apples he painted were beautiful,or the way he drew a pot was significant,instead itcarriessocietalsignificance.Of course,Cezanne was undeniably a genius in painting.

Only when the whole game ends can we judge.When everybody is running to and fro on the field,how can you tell that it will be Brazil or France whofinally taketheWorldCup? Whether there are masters or not cannot be judged in contemporary times. No dynasty has masters in its contemporary times.

It is my personal view that people like Huang Binhong,Qi Baishi,and Lin Fengmian are not top masters. What are top masters?Top masters are those without whom mankind will bedifferent.

If there had been no Albert Einstein, mankind would have been different. So he is a top master.People who change the world are real top masters.

For instance,say Zhao Jie,had not for him,Chinese painting would be very much different;or Wang Xizhi, without him the characters Chinese write would also not be the same. From my point of view,they are top masters.

People like Huang Binhong,Qi Baishi,and Lin Fengmian can paint very well.I think they are really good artists.But it is not sure if they will become top masters.This point has nothing to do with the artists.It depends on the society,where many factors interact with each other.

I believe that a master’s works,to a greater extent,must have significant cultural influence on the population.It is like a ripple caused by an earthquake.The ripple may be very small in the tremor.But as the quake’s magnitude is high,the ripple will expand gradually

It is my personal belief that Shi Tao and Badashanren,the pseudonym of Zhu Da,a famous painter of the Ming Dynasty,have exerted strong influence on ancient Chinese scholars’and officials’thinking,sentiments,and values.Unquestionably they are masters. Or take Li Yu as an example,it seems that what he wrote were all about his inner feelings as his country was de feated.But Wang Guowei compared Li Yu to Jesus Christ because they both shouldered the disasters of entire humanity.

A good work is usually seen wonderful from every angle.From the traditional perspective of Chinese painting,its tradition is well preserved. From the perspective of innovation,it is also well done.Mere innovationwon’t make a good painting.Therefore,innovation is not the only aesthetic value.And it is not the most important value as well.

A little girl is pretty herself.Why? For her fair skin?Not all fair-skinned girls are pretty.For her slender figure? But some are too skinny to accredit pretty.

As I see it,sincerity and vividness arethemostcrucialvalues.The essence of innovation is that one hopes to represent larger value instead of imitating others.

At the beginning people learn some formalized techniques in order to command some languages to enter this game of art.When you are really in the game,it is the demonstration of your personal values,including your refinement and character.What you are is mirrored in your works in this game.

The paintings are the index of the heart.This means you wouldn’t understand a person if he doesn’t draw or sing.Once he draws,he is expressing himself more thoroughly.Then you fell he is charming.Take Cao Xueqin for example,if he had not written The Dreams of the Red Chamber,you would surely think he was a wretched old man.But he accomplished the book and you feel respectful for richness of his inner sentiments.

Therefore,the difference lies in the profoundness.Only when the artist is philosophical will his works be profound.

(FromBack to the Old Self,Guangxi Normal University Press.Illustration: Badashanren)