I always have this fascination about traditional chinese brush painting ; the simplicity and strong contrast of black and white really appealed to me. It was not too long ago I managed to have the opportunity to learn the art of Chinese brush painting. Ever since I had a few classes in China in 2018, my creative spark have reignited. I came back to Brisbane and painted whenever I had the time. In ancient time, to judge a person to see how wise and educated they are, they will either be able to perform calligraphy writing and also painting. It is through this art that demonstrate a person's knowledge, wisdom, character, morality and virtue. Most of chinese painting depict subjects like plants, landscape, people, divinities and animals; this is to show how well the artist can understand or be in tune with nature, or in other words Tao (the way). Through these depictions the viewer can also see the artists' expression in it as well, allowing them to display their character. A master who spent many years cultivating the art will also cultivate themselves.
Chinese people also believes that calligraphy and painting emits qi (energy). Paintings with very meaningful message inside the paintings will provide very good or righteous qi, which may bring either good fortune, health, prosperity or positive outcome to the family. Different subject have many various meanings; for example, peacocks stand for fortune (because of its colourful feathers); bamboo symbolizes elegance; pine trees means loyalty; lotus flower means enlightenment; crane symbolise life and longevity; Tortoise means wisdom; fish or gold fishes means wealth, etc.
