The crosses Torrent 1699

Curator: Before us hangs Shitao's "The Crosses Torrent," an ink drawing completed in 1699. Editor: It looks unfinished somehow, all sweeping brushstrokes and misty washes. A robed figure seems to float down a river. There's a tension here, between wildness and something almost serene. Curator: The scene is rendered with bold, almost reckless brushwork. What strikes me is not the technique but the enduring power of journeying itself, so telluric in rendering the land by the element of water. Notice the traveler figure in the painting; his form and setting have long embodied transformation in spiritual pursuit throughout various cultural contexts. It is an invitation to ponder the universal appeal of such quest motifs. Editor: I agree; however, look at the economical use of ink. So much detail suggested with so little. A cheap and sustainable process as he reduces the cost to his work by using more abstract ink on his subjects instead of fine brushes which will make the artistic production less expensive. The way Shitao uses different tonalities to describe all those various textural nuances of forms interests me a lot in term of material process. It’s really about exploiting the inherent qualities of the ink and paper. Curator: True, but there's a clear symbolic architecture here. The mountains aren't just mountains; they speak to a timeless natural order, of transcendence. Even the mist seems to carry whispers of ancient wisdom. I suppose his artistic choice and vision gave his artwork its iconic status in East Asia that later inspired lots of artist to engage their career on landscape ink painting. Editor: I understand what you are saying, but his method also provided new artistic opportunity. To give emphasis to its materialist interpretation: Shitao also was one of the leading influences on Individualist painting with the element of art. The artistic choices for this painting is incredible, in the means of economic use for ink, style and his way of thinking while creating art. Curator: He captures the enduring themes that are integral components for interpreting nature. In this regard, his choices in terms of theme selection continue to give impact to his audience. Editor: True! It does allow people to question both inner quest themes, economical and stylistic approaches within Asian-art!