Life illuminated by the light of art: read Wang Jiaming's "Art Gives Me"

Wang Jiaming and his new book "Art Gives Me" (Guangxi Normal University Press, April 2023). (Infographic/Figure)

"Art Gave Me" sorts out Wang Jiaming's reading history and growth history, with a distinct personal imprint. Art, as the richest, colorful and rotten aspect of the history of reading, profoundly shaped his character, influenced his choice of life path, and ultimately determined the direction of his life.

And look at some of the fragments of his life that were deeply influenced by art.

During the five years from 1966 until he joined the workforce, Wang spent half of his time on the seaside in his hometown of Qingdao, thanks to the influence of Russian painter Aivazovsky's Nine Waves. "I'm just thrilled by the cosmic sense and mystery created by the beautiful hazy sunset, the turbulent rhythmic waves, and the intricate intertwining of light and shadow, and I don't feel much for those who struggle only with the sunken mast." How high the status of the Spanish painter Velázquez in Wang Jiaming's heart is, how exaggerated sentences can not be overstated. For his masterpiece "The Spinning Girl", Wang Jiaming never tired of watching it, and even could experience poetry and hear music from it. Pope Innocent X inspired Wang Jiaming to become a painter. The influence of fine arts does not stop at a young age, but lasts throughout a lifetime. "Even now, decades later, when I revisit my old dream and face these two works again, it still arouses the desire and worship of art – good paintings, the best things in the world." What kind of fate and emotion made Wang Jiaming write such almost paranoid and obsessive words? How can the reader not be envious when he encounters his infinite emotion? A life that can be illuminated by the light of art and has always been illuminated is different after all. In difficult situations, maybe more tenacious? In good times, maybe more sober? When you are about to be shrouded in night, maybe more calm and calm?

Spanish painter Velázquez, "The Spinning Woman". (Infographic/Figure)

The ripples that arise in the heart due to the influence of art, either fleeting or lingering for a long time, belong to both personal memory and part of art history. Art resonates with the mind at the same frequency, no matter how long it takes, it is extremely precious. Art communication is like a never-ending relay race, and Wang Jiaming participates in this rod shared by his generation. At the beginning, it was deeply immersed in the youthful years, but now it flows carefully in the words, conveying unstoppable satisfaction and gratitude. "Art Gave Me" is not a rigorous academic work, although there are also relevant historical materials combing and research, however, these are to express real experience and real feelings to pave the way. Starting from memories, taking emotions as the foothold, telling about the love and impressions you have had, this is the thoroughfare of essay writing. For me, that's the beauty of this book.

Velázquez, Pope Innocent X. (Infographic/Figure)

This is quite autobiographical, although what is written is only one side of the author's life. Writing this book is a necessary warmth for Wang Jiaming. What is the reason why he is for him? What do those moments in his life that make him feel excited, and he has no turning back, illustrate? In this way, it is possible to tease out a clue from the books you have read and the works of art you have appreciated. What did art give him? Wang Jiaming said that it is an additional dimension of understanding and viewing the world, and it is a life in which he has been engaged in art-related work although he has not been a painter. Wang Jiaming didn't seem to say it explicitly, but only implicitly expressed it as a whole: Back then, due to the limitations of conditions, the vision was narrow, and focusing on one place was luck in misfortune. Hit by a force, its influence can completely determine a person's temperament, demeanor, character.

One of Wang Jiaming's oil sketches (Zhongshan Park, Qingdao, 1975). (Infographic/Figure)

In this book, the art works that have deeply influenced the author rely more on old, yellowed books. Write many bits and pieces that are always related to the book, so that the whole book is filled with a strong bookish atmosphere. In many of the books he mentioned, art is book design and illustration. The book is heavily illustrated, with more than 200 illustrations, but not an album, but a collection of illustrated essays. In the eyes of the author, Mr. Feng Zikai is the kind of binding master who is good at provoking the reader's vision, "a few strokes, people are happy and amazing". The collection of Zhu Ziqing's essays "Traces" published in 1924, "Our June" published in 1925 and "Zikai Comics" published in 1926, and the Amichis' "The Education of Love" translated by Xia Piazun published in 1926 are all unique and memorable. The placement of these books in books is like a frame of fascinating footage in the history of literature, and a closer look reveals a lot of taste.

Wang Jiaming's oil painting Spring Outside Sai (2014). (Infographic/Figure)

If you want to extract the commonality of inner temperament in the ancient and modern Chinese and foreign art people mentioned in the book, it is that they all have a bookish atmosphere. "Book Design in the Lu Xun Era", "Fan Yong's "Qi"" and "Ning Chengchun: Keeping the Right and New" all provide unique and unique book qi for this book, from Lu Xun to Fan to Ning Chengchun is the inheritance and development of book design style, but also the continuation of book qi. For young readers today, the writers, books, illustrations, etc. mentioned by Wang Jiaming are very modern. Not to mention foreign writers and their illustrations, just talking about the books designed by Zhang Guangyu, Wen Yiduo, Ye Qianyu, Ding Cong and others in China, at a glance, there is a continuous flow of history from the pages.

What a wonderful life influenced by art.

Zhang Jiahong

Responsible editor: Liu Xiaolei