Throughout the ages, works of art that can be passed down through the ages are not just a record of historical events or a presentation of exquisite visual forms, but more of a spiritual connotation. One of the core spirits of Chinese art is freehand, which embodies the artist's instantaneous perception and passion for life, and contains national wisdom.
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the calligraphy and painting works of Bada Shanren and Shi Tao were the pinnacle of traditional Chinese freehand art. Whether it is calligraphy or painting, they express their hearts through brush and ink, which does not make people feel simple and plain, nor does it make people feel obscure, but guides the viewer to feel the whole and every detail of the work under the psychological effect of déjà vu, and to appreciate the essence and true meaning of it more deeply.
In the exhibition "Ink Rhyme and Context: Bada Shanren, Shi Tao and Chinese Freehand Art since the 20th Century" held at the National Art Museum of China, the calligraphy of Bada Shanren is particularly eye-catching. The calligraphy works of the "Eight Bodies" style and the "Bada Shanren" style resonated with the audience. The calligraphy of Bada Shanren is free and easy, mellow and full, all of which reflect his deep yearning and pursuit of freedom and peace.
The original name of Bada Shanren was Zhu Qi, who was born noble, but he suffered the destruction of the country and became a remnant of the country. This major change caused him to suffer physically and mentally, but in the end, he turned the hatred of the country and his family into spiritual cultivation and the realm of pen and ink. His calligraphy style is unique, with both the traditional Jin and Tang Dynasty charms, as well as his own original ideas. He dabbled in a wide range of subjects, and turned to many divisions, and advanced the five bodies of seal, subordinate, Kai, line, and grass, laying a solid foundation for the "Eight Bodies".
Huang Anping's "Small Portrait of a Mountain" in the exhibition is particularly eye-catching, which is not only the only portrait of the Bada Shanren at present, but more importantly, it shows the calligraphy style of the Bada Shanren. The exhibition also exhibits the calligraphy works of other Bada Shanren, all of which are based on the "Eight Bodies" calligraphy style, each with its own unique characteristics and style.
The calligraphy works of the Bada Shanren are simple and natural, smooth and calm between the lines, and there is no complicated and obvious brushwork, but it can show rich changes in pen and ink. He sees painting as a more rustic form of calligraphy, using brush and ink to depict natural imagery, creating a new realm of brush and ink. In general, the calligraphy works of the Bada Shanren are thick and thin, and the older they get, the purer they become, and they are full of freedom and peace.
Other calligraphy works are also exhibited in the exhibition, such as "Xingshu Collects Medicine and Seeks the Truth in Five Words", which all show the different characteristics and charm of Bada Shanren's calligraphy.