绿韵 2019

Curator: At first glance, I see chaos and vibrancy all at once! The textural depth and the layering of greens, blues, and browns is a dizzying visual field. Editor: Indeed, the artwork is entitled "Green Rhyme," or 綠韻, made in 2019 by 王新福. It strikes me as quite dynamic, almost like a landscape deconstructed into pure gesture. Think of Abstract Expressionism in the lineage of landscape painting. Curator: I would agree; and one must view it within its socio-cultural setting, because even its label, the abstract expressionism moniker, is a politically charged one. When we understand its complex adoption within Asian art discourses, then, can we truly unravel the layers of meaning, which are influenced by both national identity and the larger globalized art world. The application of paint seems very impasto; the colors mixed right on the canvas. Editor: Yes, the materiality is fascinating. Looking closer, you see how each dab and stroke is quite distinct. There’s no real attempt to blend the oil paints, which allows a raw, unfiltered sensation of nature to emanate. It teeters on the edge of complete abstraction yet it hints at form with just enough structure, with vertical movement in the tree trunk and sky light peeking through. Curator: The title reinforces that suggestion of the natural world. "Green Rhyme" speaks to the inherent harmony or pattern that the artist observes in the natural world and tries to translate through expressive abstraction, which ties into a growing contemporary movement that saw the potential in cross-cultural artmaking as forms of diplomatic soft-power during the early 2000s. Editor: The tension created between control and spontaneity generates visual intrigue here. I wonder what philosophy shaped the artist's technique—was it based upon calculated compositional techniques, or unbridled feelings about his world? Curator: To contextualize this artwork within Wang Xinfu's broader oeuvre and contemporary Chinese art, "Green Rhyme" offers us a way to discuss issues regarding international influences in the national cultural and artistic landscapes. This piece showcases an interesting marriage of Chinese artistic sentiment with modern international movements. Editor: I see your point. Understanding that context certainly does shift my perception. The artist presents his internal responses by structuring layers of visual sensations and his personal experiences, for viewers to contemplate. Curator: Indeed. It adds another layer to an already fascinating piece! Editor: For sure! A stimulating exchange on this oil painting by Wang Xinfu.