In the autumn of 2002, on the exhibition hall of Vancouver Simon Fraser University Museum, when I saw a group of new works of Tan Jiangning, it made me very happy. In his work, it took me into a new world of wonderful vision, and it made me think about the development of contemporary visual art and pursuit.
The works of Mr Tan jiangning had broken the habit, the traditional framework, exploring to develop the the new situation of people visual perception. He left a complete landscape and visual angle, and constructed elegantly world of wonderful landscape; it widely used in all materials, tools to show the inky endless visual viewing channels. What’s more, it released the concepts of graphic drawing, and it introduced us into the hyperspace which included weaving, blending, overlapping, fracture, permeability, mimang, rack and mystery. All this was not to stay in style, material, tools, and novelty, but the valuable was that he used wide variety of means, to express his feelings and the pursuit of the true, the good and beauty.
Tan Jiangning, You, 98 x 196cm, Chinese art paper, Oct., 1999
Contemporary artists will concern, think and practice how to make their own creation to express the spirit of the times, the appearance and artistic taste. To do all this is not easy. The inspiration and technique of the human culture art won't drop from the clouds, and a artist could not cut off history for having foresight. He needed to study the creation experience of our ancestors, and he also needed to observe subtly the development, need and emotion of the human. If it lack of learning and inheriting seriously, it will inevitably lead to the works of thin, frivolous, manic. If it lack of modern thinking, creation, it is difficult to get rid of the traditional sample.
Tan Jiangning, Ling, 150 x 120cm, acrylic paint, May, 2002
The works of Mr Tan jiangning could make people refreshing, it was the reason that he had a strong creative ideas of artistic accomplishment on building. He had decades of multidisciplinary fine arts training and teaching experience, no prejudice about the subject, and he was not satisfied on the creation of the existing achievement. His works made me see the active thought, passionate, skilled, industrious, sincere enthusiasm. His works and himself were consistent, it liked the old adage the painting was like the person. Believe in his works and the exhibition that could lead to the resonance and love from many friends. Mr Tan jiangning was in the prime of life creation, I wanted to hope him that he could constantly flash more beautiful rainbow.
Yao Kui
July, 2003
Yao Kui was the art deputy editor-in-chief of People's Fine Arts Publishing House. Now he is living in vancouver, Canada