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This study is focused on Wu Guanzhong’s chinese ink painting, using the achievement of chinese and western fusion as an example, to explore the possibility of contemporary chinese ink painting innovation. Theoretical research and style analysis methods are used. Starting from the changing of traditional chinese ink painting and aesthetic foundation, then organizing Wu Guanzhong’s art theory, analyzing his modern chinese ink paintings, and then discussing on his artistic achievements and contributions. Artistic conception, pen/ink, mood (yi jing) and some literati characteristic are important of traditional ink painting. Wu believes that ink is one form of painting tools or instruments and modern creative works should not be limited by traditional technique of painting, substantially similar to Shi Tao's view that 'pen/Ink should be innovated with the times'and 'whole painting as one stroke principle is established by myself'. In addition, Wu still paid attentions to form and inner beauty of art. Beauty is showed in painting via form and the highest level of abstract beauty is the pictorial mood. However, the mediums of usage are different, and there are also different understandings in form and mood between chinese and western painting systems. Wu found that it is profitable to nourish both chinese and western art by using oil and ink for an interactive creating, merging his traditional ink painting technique and that of drawing studied in France. Therefore, he regards 'assimilation of oil painting' and 'ink modernization' as two touchstones making two aesthetic systems communicate with each other. Wu's ink painting practice includes the chinese pen as a tool, supplemented by the formal schema of western paintings, obtaining chinese and western intermediation and thereby its eventual fruitful results. |