Boundless

The 23rd Artist-in-Residence Review

01  [ 2021 09.09 Artist Guided Tour ]

Art is not artists’ diplomacy, but life itself.

Mr. Cao’s guided tour started with a blank space. Students rushing in were blocked by the inch of space at the entrance of TC101 SPACE. Not a single painting, but came more poetic moods.

Mr. Cao guided students through the ink paintings and experience colors of lives from various artistic perspectives: mountain in its prime, rain in the mists, and poems in the drinks. Cao’s Jiangnan captures memories and transcends the time, traveling from ancient towns in Anhui to Champs Elysees and from “The Less Clever, the Happier” to “Laid-back”.

Stroke in ink blooms a life of all tastes. 

Artist Guided Tour Live Photos                                                                                                                                                          

02  [ 2021 09.10 The first workshop——"The Magic of Brush and Ink" ]

At the first workshop, Mr. Cao Yingwang taught students simple calligraphy in large characters

With Mr. Cao’s witty words and handwriting demonstration, students studied, communicated and appreciated with each other. Every seemingly ordinary stroke contains rich changes. The beauty of calligraphy shone on the papers under Mr. Cao’s vivid explanation.

Instructed by Mr. Cao, every student successfully created their own calligraphy works from scratch. He even inscribed on their works and scanned them on the spot, which surprised and moved everyone.

 Live Photos      

03  [ 2021 09.17 The second workshop——“Landscape on Rice Paper”】

At the second workshop, Mr. Cao Yingwang showed students the long history of Chinese calligraphy and painting using the PowerPoint. From the birth of characters, various types of Chinese writing, to the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties.

The history slowly unfolded under Mr. Cao’s explanation: the beauty and admiration in the "Nymph of the Luo River", past history in the undulating Fuchun Mountain, Han Xizai’s night banquet, Zeng Guofan’s letter home, and Guo Ziyi’ long well-ending life. All this engaged and attracted the students.

Later, students drew their own bamboos in ink guided by Mr. Cao. From points to lines flowed everyone’s diverse styles and distinct personalities; from the ink to brush jumped their vigor and vitality. Just as Huang Tingjian’s Spring Shade describes, “bamboo shoots as calf horns, fern sprouts like kid fists”.

 Live Photos      

04  【2021 09.24 The third workshop——“Creation Workshop – Spark Your Inspiration”】

The third workshop provided an opportunity for students to experiment with no fear. Mr. Cao extracted the essence from the first two workshops and gave the students instructions on calligraphy and Chinese painting.

From line, rhythm, composition to dot drawing, students listened attentively, imitated carefully and created freely. They deeply felt the charm of traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy from both the elegant calligraphy and the bamboo painting of bamboo full of aesthetic feelings and blank space.

Mr. Cao shared with the students that "art is a life-long journey". The workshop was just the beginning, opening students’ eyes to traditional Chinese arts. Hope all of them can keep learning and growing along the path regardless of their future careers. Keep arts as a lifetime hobby and pursuit.

  Live Photos      

【The  Artist-in-Residence  Programme】

In 2016, the University initiated the Artist-in-Residence Programme to create an artistic atmosphere on campus and to elevate student's aesthetic taste. We regularly invite top artists from various fields to reside on campus, create artworks and hold workshops with students. The programme may last 5-10 days or 1-2 months. Artists will work with or guide students to create or appreciate artworks through workshops or lectures. Artists will also take into account resources available off campus to contribute towards our development.