EXHIBITED:

The painting is to be sold with a certificate of authenticity issued by Dimensions Art Center, Taipei.

Playing with Ink and Colors
Results in a New Frame of Mind
Text/ Li Chiao

Being the master of Chinese art in the 20th century, Liu Hai-Su is celebrated for his strongly subjective and unique open-minded attitudes towards art. From the 1970s to the 1980s, there had been discussion about the future of Chinese paintings in art circles. In a discussion about the extremely sorry state of Chinese paintings, being different from other people's view, Liu still insisted on an open-minded attitude. He has been engaged in exploring splash-ink and splash-colour methods of Chinese paintings. Thus, he becomes a pioneer at the two methods. Liu's colour-ink work, "Golden Landscape" in 1983 is a representative example of his colour-ink art explorations of the period.

Liu's colour-ink art explorations are relevant to his insistent belief in the principle of combining Chinese and Western art. In his later life, he also uses both oil paintings and colour ink at the same time-making Chinese and Western elements keep abreast of each other. In his painting, the two are simply different medium of conveying thoughts and feelings and also represent his artistic features in his later life. The force of unexpected change is shown in harmony among colours. Such kind of unexpected change introduces a novelty within a traditional idea-"ink is regarded as the main focus; colour, as a complement"in literati paintings. Liu selects attractively scenic Huan Mountains as a significant object in his colour-ink changes and also as a topic conveying his artistic feeling-thus transforming the mountain into a landscape with vast and magnificent scenery. This remarkable representation originated from the painter's rich experience of painting from life in his earlier years. Liu uses Chinese painting skills and comparison in portraying mountains and rivers, and he connects tradition to actual life. His artistic experience provides an important preparatory understanding for his later colour-ink explorations. His "masculine posture of Huan Mountains"finally becomes a work praised far and wide in artistic circles.

In his coloured-ink work, "Golden Landscape" mountains are toweringly erected and magnificently overlapping. Their imposing manner is thrilling and vibrating. Clouds and mists float among them. Looking like a fairy land, this picture represents a powerful force resulting from the creation of nature. This work is so breathtaking. Shadows of mountains are made by using the mercury ore called cinnabar. The rocky mountains in the foreground are made by using water and ink and splash-colour method. With coloured ink's free permeation, the painter applies many layers of ink and also plays up azurite in this painting. Marvelous pines in the front are outlined using forceful brush strokes. Large patches are made by combining ink colours with water and thus an effect of rich texture is left on the rice paper. The blank areas and coloured areas make an interesting contrast. Red and blue connected to each other are strong and also make a good match. Thus an aloof and ancient realm of stable, heavy, spiritual and graceful feeling is achieved.

The painting, "Golden Landscape" shows the painter's profound realization on tradition and innovation. Liu fulfills his coloured-ink exploration within a traditional structure. His art itself comes more from Chinese traditional culture. In a solid foundation of vast Chinese traditional cultivation and knowledge, Liu's colour-ink art provides a unique style. His use of the brush is forceful and powerful. Colours are applied in a free manner. He sometimes uses a splash-colour technique-which demonstrates his bold spirit. His paintings achieve a marvelous effect and a degree of representation which can compete with Western oil paintings.