Birds of Paradise 1940

Qi Baishi's 'Birds of Paradise' emerges from the paper in strokes of red and ink. I’m picturing the artist hovering over the surface, brush dancing, defining the birds with decisive gestures. I can only imagine what it must have been like to create this painting, the birds materialising with each stroke of the brush. Qi Baishi's vivid red birds are perched on branches sketched out in quick, dark lines. Look how the long, sweeping tails loop and curve, creating energy and rhythm. The tails are a vibrant declaration, aren't they? The brushstrokes suggest both precision and spontaneity, the artist allowing the ink to bleed and blend, embracing the unpredictable nature of the medium. Qi Baishi was clearly in conversation with centuries of artists who came before him. Painting is like that, you know, an ongoing dialogue through time. Each artist riffs off another, exploring the world in their own way. There's a sense of freedom and joy in Qi Baishi’s brushstrokes, a celebration of life through the simple act of painting.