part.3 万物有灵

花鸟画，是以动植物为描绘对象的中国传统画科，无论花草、树木、飞鸟、走兽、鱼虫，大自然一切活泼泼的生命，都是艺术家们倾心描绘的对象。这不仅源自于中国人将自然万物看成构成生命世界的统一整体，更是因为中国人将其作为人格显现的外化。也因此，梅兰竹菊被称为“四君子”，梅花凌霜斗雪，坚贞不渝；兰花高雅不群，幽香四溢；翠竹挺拔刚直，谦逊大气；菊花隐逸从容，不与世争。艺术家们以物自喻，表达自我的人格追求。

花鸟画以写生方式观察动植物形态。从技法上说，工笔花鸟细致描摹物象动态，极尽精微，生动传神；写意花鸟则注重笔简意繁，讲求线条与笔墨的表现力，看似随性实则精心的构图，以大笔触抒发胸中意气。花鸟画深得观众喜爱，如今，花鸟画的题材多样，尺幅巨大，也吸收了许多西方的绘画技法，既表现出中国艺术家们高超的艺术技巧，也代表着人们对美好生活的向往。而中国艺术家们持续表现万物有灵的生命世界，其内在动力来自于中国人的艺术观念：归根结底，艺术的价值与作用在于“成教化，助人伦”，追求心灵的和谐宁静，创造更加美好的世界。

徐涟

There is a Soul in Everything

Flower-and-bird painting is a traditional Chinese art form that takes plants and animals as its subjects. Whether it’s flowers, grasses, trees, birds, beasts, fish, or insects, all of nature’s lively creatures are the objects of artists’burning creativity. This practice sprang from the Chinese view of nature as a unified whole and an external manifestation of human character. Thus, the plum blossom, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum are called the “Four Gentlemen.” Each symbolizes a distinct virtue: the plum blossom represents resilience and steadfastness as it blooms in winter; the orchid signifies elegance due to its pleasant fragrance; bamboo stands for uprightness and modesty; and the chrysanthemum embodies seclusion and poise, as well as aloofness from mundane pursuits. Artists use their subjects to metaphorically express their personal ideals and moral integrity.

Flower-and-bird paintingstudies the forms of plants and animals through painting from nature. Technically, gongbi flower-and-bird painting meticulously depicts the dynamics of its subjects with intricate and lifelike details. In contrast, xieyi flower-and-bird painting emphasizes expressive brushwork and ink arrangement, using seemingly spontaneous but carefully composed strokes to convey the artist’s feelings and ideas emphatically. Flower-and-bird painting has been quite popular. Today, it has expanded its range of subjects, adopted extra-large formats, and incorporated many Western techniques. This not only demonstrates the high artistic skills of Chinese artists but also represents people’s aspirations for a beautiful life.

Chinese artists’ continuous depiction of the animated natural world is driven by their artistic philosophy, which holds that, ultimately, the value and function of art lie in “promoting morality and assisting in ethical teaching,” attaining inner harmony and tranquility, and creating a better world.

Xu Lian