fluktor -|||- study - office - newsletter April 23, 2003

people's daily, April 23, 2003

Folk Art Expo to be Held in Northwest China

The Second China (Changchun) Folk Art Exposition, due for Aug. 28-Sept. 3 in Changchun, capital city of northeast China's Jilin province, is expected to give impetus to the development of the country's folk art industry.

According to a source close to the city authorities on Wednesday, trade fairs of artworks, including calligraphic works and paintings, and forums on folk art will be staged during the event at the joint sponsorship of the China Federation of Literaryand Art Circles, the China Folk Literature and Art Association andthe Changchun city government.

Many artworks with typical and vivid features of northeast China, including tree-root carvings, paper cuttings and clay sculptures, along with other items from around China in 11 categories such as paintings, knitting, potted plants and antiques,will be on display and for sale, said Zhu Yejing, director of the organizing committee.

The exposition is expected to increase contacts and exchanges among artists, salesmen and consumers, and to exploit a broader market for folk art in the country, added Zhu, also mayor of Changchun.
(http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200304/23/eng20030423_115657.shtml)

**********************************************
Seeing the past with an inner eye

A painter with only limited eyesight, Chiang Han-tung seeks his inspiration from his memories and thoughts
By Vico Lee, STAFF REPORTER, Sunday, Apr 20, 2003,Page 19
[image] Happy Family in a Boat by Chiang Han-tung. PHOTO COURTESY OF APOLLO ART GALLERY

An attack of glaucoma 35 years ago could have ended Chiang Han-tung's (江漢東) life as a painter.

Deprived of clear vision, his painting career stalled, Chiang suffered severe depression and vowed never to pick up a brush again. Fortunately he changed his mind, otherwise we would not have the chance to see some engaging Chinese folk customs brought to life through Chiang unique perspective.

Simply titled Oil Paintings by Chiang Han-tung, (江漢東創作懷念展) Chiang's current solo exhibition at the Apollo Art Gallery (阿波羅畫廊) has proved that despite the loss of most of his eyesight, Chiang's vision of the world has not suffered.

This is one of only a few solo exhibitions Chiang has held and the first since his retrospective in 1997.

Chiang was a student of Lee Chun-shang (李仲生), one of Taiwan's most influential painters and fine arts teachers.

In the 1950s, when Impressionism dominated Taiwan's art scene, Chiang was pioneering the Cubist idioms while promoting prints valued as art rather than just as decorations.

Chiang's folk-activity-themed paintings suggest a strong association with painter Wu Hao (吳昊), both in the choice of palette and the depiction of festive scenes.

Unlike Wu, who established his reputation early, as indeed did many of his students, Chiang has remained a relatively obscure figure over the past 30 years.

Sporadically appearing in some joint exhibitions, Chiang did not receive any formal recognition until 1997, when he received the Lee Chung-sheng Foundation Modern Painting Award at the age of 68.

The fact that Chiang is not well-known is partly due to his dislike of promotion and avoidance of social activities. Painting is Chiang's one and only passion in life.

Chiang's glaucoma got the better of him just when his career was taking off in 1968. His wood cuts at the time show much influence from Chinese Buddhist frescos, Hindu folk art and, most of all, a vivid expression of an idyllic life from a bygone age.

At the encouragement of his wife, who had to work several jobs to support their life, Chiang broke his vow four years after he put down his easel. At first, he tried to draw with black magic markers, going on to use more colors and finally began using oil on canvas. With his limited eyesight, Chiang can only paint in the soft light of early morning and for no more than a few hours a day.

Spending most of his days painting and thinking, Chiang attributes his paintings to imagination stimulated by the memories of his early life in China's Fujian province. Circuses, religious festivals and the folklore Chiang's elders passed down to him are put down on canvas with childlike simplicity.

Oil Paintings by Chiang Han-tung will show at the Apollo Art Gallery, 2F, 218-6, Chunghsiao E Rd Sec 4 (台北市忠孝東路四段218-6號2樓) until May 18.
(http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2003/04/20/202873)

____________________

Matthias Arnold M.A.
Digital Resources
Institute of Chinese Studies
University of Heidelberg
Akademiestr. 4-8
69117 Heidelberg
Germany

Phone: ++ 49 - (0) 62 21 - 54 76 75
Fax: ++ 49 - (0) 62 21 - 54 76 39

http://www.chinaresource.org
http://www.sino.uni-heidelberg.de

www.fluktor.de
www.zhaomo.de.vu


	April 23, 2003: from the arts: 2nd china folk art expo / chiang han-tung

	people's daily, April 23, 2003 Folk Art Expo to be Held in Northwest China The Second China (Changchun) Folk Art Exposition, due for Aug. 28-Sept. 3 in Changchun, capital city of northeast China's Jilin province, is expected to give impetus to the development of the country's folk art industry. According to a source close to the city authorities on Wednesday, trade fairs of artworks, including calligraphic works and paintings, and forums on folk art will be staged during the event at the joint sponsorship of the China Federation of Literaryand Art Circles, the China Folk Literature and Art Association andthe Changchun city government. Many artworks with typical and vivid features of northeast China, including tree-root carvings, paper cuttings and clay sculptures, along with other items from around China in 11 categories such as paintings, knitting, potted plants and antiques,will be on display and for sale, said Zhu Yejing, director of the organizing committee. The exposition is expected to increase contacts and exchanges among artists, salesmen and consumers, and to exploit a broader market for folk art in the country, added Zhu, also mayor of Changchun. (http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200304/23/eng20030423_115657.shtml) ********************************************** Seeing the past with an inner eye A painter with only limited eyesight, Chiang Han-tung seeks his inspiration from his memories and thoughts By Vico Lee, STAFF REPORTER, Sunday, Apr 20, 2003,Page 19 [image] Happy Family in a Boat by Chiang Han-tung. PHOTO COURTESY OF APOLLO ART GALLERY An attack of glaucoma 35 years ago could have ended Chiang Han-tung's (江漢東) life as a painter. Deprived of clear vision, his painting career stalled, Chiang suffered severe depression and vowed never to pick up a brush again. Fortunately he changed his mind, otherwise we would not have the chance to see some engaging Chinese folk customs brought to life through Chiang unique perspective. Simply titled Oil Paintings by Chiang Han-tung, (江漢東創作懷念展) Chiang's current solo exhibition at the Apollo Art Gallery (阿波羅畫廊) has proved that despite the loss of most of his eyesight, Chiang's vision of the world has not suffered. This is one of only a few solo exhibitions Chiang has held and the first since his retrospective in 1997. Chiang was a student of Lee Chun-shang (李仲生), one of Taiwan's most influential painters and fine arts teachers. In the 1950s, when Impressionism dominated Taiwan's art scene, Chiang was pioneering the Cubist idioms while promoting prints valued as art rather than just as decorations. Chiang's folk-activity-themed paintings suggest a strong association with painter Wu Hao (吳昊), both in the choice of palette and the depiction of festive scenes. Unlike Wu, who established his reputation early, as indeed did many of his students, Chiang has remained a relatively obscure figure over the past 30 years. Sporadically appearing in some joint exhibitions, Chiang did not receive any formal recognition until 1997, when he received the Lee Chung-sheng Foundation Modern Painting Award at the age of 68. The fact that Chiang is not well-known is partly due to his dislike of promotion and avoidance of social activities. Painting is Chiang's one and only passion in life. Chiang's glaucoma got the better of him just when his career was taking off in 1968. His wood cuts at the time show much influence from Chinese Buddhist frescos, Hindu folk art and, most of all, a vivid expression of an idyllic life from a bygone age. At the encouragement of his wife, who had to work several jobs to support their life, Chiang broke his vow four years after he put down his easel. At first, he tried to draw with black magic markers, going on to use more colors and finally began using oil on canvas. With his limited eyesight, Chiang can only paint in the soft light of early morning and for no more than a few hours a day. Spending most of his days painting and thinking, Chiang attributes his paintings to imagination stimulated by the memories of his early life in China's Fujian province. Circuses, religious festivals and the folklore Chiang's elders passed down to him are put down on canvas with childlike simplicity. Oil Paintings by Chiang Han-tung will show at the Apollo Art Gallery, 2F, 218-6, Chunghsiao E Rd Sec 4 (台北市忠孝東路四段218-6號2樓) until May 18. (http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2003/04/20/202873) ____________________ Matthias Arnold M.A. Digital Resources Institute of Chinese Studies University of Heidelberg Akademiestr. 4-8 69117 Heidelberg Germany Phone: ++ 49 - (0) 62 21 - 54 76 75 Fax: ++ 49 - (0) 62 21 - 54 76 39 http://www.chinaresource.org http://www.sino.uni-heidelberg.de www.fluktor.de www.zhaomo.de.vu