Home

120*100cm, 2023

This image presents an artwork that engages in a dialogue between traditional Chinese calligraphy and contemporary painting techniques. It takes the form of the character "家" (jiā), meaning "home" or "family," as penned in the cursive script by the renowned calligrapher Wang Xizhi, and reimagines it through an abstract expressionist lens.

The use of red is particularly striking and is a color deeply rooted in Chinese culture, symbolizing luck, joy, and prosperity. Its dominance in the painting could be an homage to the power and emotion that the character for "home" embodies within Chinese society. The variation in tone and saturation throughout the canvas adds depth and complexity, suggesting layers of meaning just as there are layers of history and emotion tied to the concept of home. The strokes are bold and seemingly unrestrained, resonating with the spontaneous and flowing energy of cursive script (草书). The abstract forms created by the reinterpretation of the character's strokes maintain a sense of movement, echoing the original calligraphy's emphasis on the flow and rhythm of the brush. It is an exploration of the boundary between language and visual art, where the written word transitions into a pictorial representation that communicates beyond the literal meaning of the character. The black lines that traverse the canvas may represent the actual strokes of the calligraphy brush, anchoring the abstraction in the discipline of writing.

They provide a structural framework that contrasts with the otherwise chaotic red, adding a visual tension that is both harmonious and dissonant. This could be seen as a metaphor for the structure of family or home within the chaos of life, standing strong amidst the swirl of emotions and events.

In essence, the painting is a contemporary reinterpretation that pays respect to the past while asserting its own unique language. It is a visual symphony that plays with the duality of tradition and innovation, inviting viewers to reflect on the enduring significance of cultural symbols and their connections to the concept of home.