Chinese Landscape - Widescreen view

This is part 2 of the Chinese Art Appreciation series. In this painting, I try to capture the sentiment as expressed by ancient artists when they painted summer sceneries. As before, I will refer to one of the more popular works written by Lin Yutang i.e. The Importance of Living, A Lyrical Philosophy.

While this is not exactly a summer painting, I try to depict the essential characteristics that will best describe this beautiful, luxuriant season (Yes, I know, I am doing this painting in my tropical backyard in a country that is currently bathing in alternating heat and flash thunderstorm - no thanks to global warming!).

Hua: flowery splendour. Summer reveals its true majesty in its trees, forests and best of all, its floral display. This is floral language without seeds, or without thought or substance. Indeed, this is what we call a 'Flowery Kingdom' season.

Hsiung: heroic, powerful and majestic, as in the majestic mountains. You know what, I can literally move those mighty mountains in my 18 by 24 inch canvas. In real life, though, the closest I get is to move flower pots!

Chuang: also means strong and powerful but the combination peichuang will take a different meaning which is 'tragic but strong'.

Ts'iao: steep, rugged and abrupt - as in steep mountain edges. Again, it can also be used in a literary manner as well. Have you come across people who are friendly and perhaps also gregarious who will abruptly act in a hostile manner in response to a trivial matter?

Hao (fang): unrestrained. In the words of Lin Yutang, 'a poet or writer writing with the full sweep and mastery of his powers is compared to a celestial horse galloping in the sky'.

Finally, there's not much difference between spring and summer as compared to autumn or winter. Both depict vitality(ling), a quality seen in paintings where mountains and rockeries are generously spaced out (as you would see in nature) to represent the spirit of aliveness, though empty!

To further emphasize this awe-inspiring season, I recently come acrosss a website dedicated to a Russian singer, who is apparently one of the 'founders' of Russian rock music. This song that is posted on the internet is one of the more beautiful ones that I've heard. Just listen to the song and see if you agree. Below are the lyrics:

Golden City

by Boris Grebenshchikov

Under the clear blue sky
A golden city lies
With crystal-clear gates
And a single star so bright.

There is a garden there
With flowers and herbs
And strange exotic animals
That no one's seen or heard.

With a majestic mane
There strolls a yellow lion,
An ox with deep blue eyes,
And an eagle so divine.

And in the sky of blue
A solitary star--
This star, my love, is you--
'Twas always what you are.

Whoever loves is loved,
Whoever's blessed is bright,
So let the star point the way
To that magic place tonight.

With a majestic mane
You'll be greeted by a lion,
An ox with deep blue eyes
And an eagle so divine.

Melting Moments

My daughter was hiding for many hours in her room the day before Father's Day. So, I thought she must be finishing a very important school project. When I saw the card, my heart melted away like an ice cream in a warm afternoon.

On Father's Day, I finally bought the much longed for Playstation2. It comes with 2 original controller and an 8 MB memory card. Can you imagine the reseller set out before me 3 different types of controller to choose from - the 100% original, the 50% fake and the 100% fake? All of them have the identical Sony logo. I took me awhile to realise that the original is slightly heavier, has a smoother control and is coated with a matt finish (compared to the fakes which are covered in gloss). Still he looks like an honest person to show me all the differences, which was later verified by a heavy gamer, my nephew.

And yeah, the PS2 is definately not for me. Its a gift for my son who topped his class during the last term. There is now a PS3 model but we don't think many parents can afford the games.

I think its wise for parents to set a time limit for them to play (knowing how addictive the games can be). My son has promised to continue with his chess lessons and piano practice since the exam is not far away. Furthermore, I would prefer children to participate in the occasional outdoor ecopark activities, instead of just video games. I can imagine the fun they will have jungle trekking, kayaking, preparing meals and camping under the stars.

Surprised by Joy

I am indeed surprised by joy. I had planned to do a monochromatic painting or at most with only 3 colors. As it turned out, there are splashes of green and yellow and red on the foliage surrounding the waterfall. Earlier, I have also not visualised the cascading water and the splashings against the rocks. All these are what we call 'happy accidents'.

I imagine the universe too, being created in a random fashion. Everything just happens. Perhaps there is no grand design in life after all.

This is confounding to many people. There is perhaps no justice and justification to whatever we are doing.

There are occasions for joy, for example marriage. But what about the ones who are stuck in the most miserable corner on earth. Is there any meaning to life for the unemployed, the cancer patient fighting a losing battle, the parents who have a terminally ill child, the prisoner who is facing a death sentence?

But the meaning itself will reveal itself as complete at the very end of life. In the meantime, we have to look retrospectively and to the future for the sequence of events, however tragic it may be, that comes our way and determine what meaning they might carry. It is these little events in life that will make up the big picture one day.

I have to look up on the details of the objects I put on my painting so that , in the end, I am able to transform this final composition into a personal accomplishment of joy.

Just trying to cover a large aspect of life in a few words.....