Chinese Artist Yang Yanwen -- Master of the "Water" Colors

BEIJING, Aug. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Born in 1939 in Shenxian County, Hebei Province, artist Yang Yanwen is noted for full integration of lines and forms as well as colors and ink in the innovative composition into his modern Chinese painting. An original report about the artist by interviewer Jingang Tian follows:

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110801/CN44557)

Yang is a member of the Chinese Artists Association, director of the art committee and professional painter at the Beijing Painting Academy. He is also rated as a national first-class artist and has received special allowance from the State Council for his outstanding expertise.

Yang grew up near a river and his ink-wash paintings are thematically and emotionally connected with water, mist and clouds - the water of nature in all her forms.

Graduated from Beijing Art Academy in 1963, Yang showed his talent for fine art, in both Chinese and Western paintings.

He painted in oil for several decades but switched to rice paper in the late 1970s. Unlike his peers, Yang's ink-wash paintings are filled with sundry textures and layers of hues, strongly influenced by his experience in oil.

His subjects are related to water, clouds and mist and his works have a feeling of moisture.

"Some say what one acquires in his or her childhood greatly decides one's later life," Yang explained. "I grew up in a village along the river. All the kids were good at swimming and fishing."

Thus Yang has a feeling for water, which he expresses in the form of clouds, mist and fog in his creations.

"I am particularly fond of painting China's southern canal towns," Yang said. "Though many artists have addressed the subject, I still wanted to infuse the scenes with something new."

Yang's canal town paintings are filled with historical depth, not romantic nostalgia. He reflects the erosion of time and harmony.

Art critics said Yang's landscape is characterized by its diversity of themes and techniques.

This distinctive mark featuring both Chinese and Western art is gradually developing into Yang's unique style with graceful and rhythmical brushstrokes.

Yang also possesses profound skills in calligraphy.

Calligraphy is evaluated in China in terms of the skill of writing with a good hand using the brush and the study of the rules and techniques of this discipline. As such it is unique to China and the small number of countries influenced by ancient Chinese culture.

Yang's art works have been shown in each of the Chinese National Art Exhibitions in China since the 70s.

Yang has also had solo exhibitions staged in the China Art Gallery and other overseas countries and regions including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland and Hong Kong.

Thanks to the uniqueness and state-of-the-art quality of his works, Yang has received a Gold medal at the 5th Manciano International Art Exhibition in Italy in 1983. He has been granted many prizes from other established foreign art institutes.

In one of his recent public speeches, Yang raised a bold question about which direction Chinese fine art is heading, which has aroused heated discussion and widespread reflection in the circle. He also gave a list of all kinds of reasons that are considered to be hindering the development of fine arts in China and firmly believed that art, whose ultimate goal is to serve people, will only be subject to the trial of history. He advocated attaching more importance to talents.

Yang's publications include "Lotus out of Clean Water" and "Selected Works of Yang Yanwen".

SOURCE Jingang Tian