Zheng Xi, Rep 1

Painting trees and flowers has always been one of the key trends in traditional Chinese art. Sometimes these images were completed by the portrayal of birds and insects, but sometimes the artist used them as a single motif that would eventually grow into a sort of metaphor expressing a certain emotional state or being a representation of the author’s beliefs. Such painting should be viewed just as skillfully depicted views of beautiful oriental nature – they can be rightfully called sketches of Chinese mentality. One of such sketches, a seemingly unsophisticated ink drawing of a few bamboo stalks, will once again give you insight into a delicate and humble Chinese soul.

Poetry in images

Look at this graceful bamboo fluttering in the wind. For a Western eye, they might seem somewhat unpretentious, too simple and self-explanatory. But strict lines, laconic themes and minimalistic elegance were exemplary for classic Chinese artists. The principle of moderation penetrates the entire Chinese culture. So you won’t find complex planes, contrasts and details in works like this. But you can’t deny that there is something inexplicably captivating, deeply poetic and even mesmerizing in this plain, polished images that have survived through centuries and found a new incarnation in contemporary painting:

• - The fragile silhouettes of bamboo are painted in black ink, each of the countless leaves outlined with great precision. We can accurately trace their shape, direction of growth and even movement as the plant sways gently under invisible gusts of wind.
• - There is no indication of the surrounding scenery and we don’t see anything that would point to the weather or time of the day. The author leaves us completely clueless as to the details of the setting. There is just this spontaneous sensation of wind blowing and a nude image of bamboo that looks more like a shadow on paper than a real plant.
• - As our eyes move into the background, the stalks gradually change from black to khaki green and get ever blurrier suggesting a sort of aerial perspective. Zheng Xi doesn’t include anything excessive in his painting, just the minimum it needs to balance between a fleeting vision and an exquisite work of art.

Converting ink into oil

The best thing about Chinese paintings is that they fit neatly into any interior! Our premium hand-painted reproduction of Zheng Xi’s original landscape looks lust as lovely in oil as it does in ink. Its refined style and subtle charm will give you rare moments of peace and harmony that we miss so much in our hectic modern life!