Chinese bonsai emphasizes three realms: the habitat realm, the painting realm, and the artistic conception realm.
The creative process of Chinese bonsai is: first create the "habitat realm" of natural beauty and the beauty of life; then further elevate it through artistic refinement to the "painting realm" of artistic beauty; finally, through scenes stirring emotions, achieve the "artistic conception realm" of ideal beauty, entering the climax where the three realms interpenetrate and scene and feeling blend. So what do "habitat realm" and "painting realm" mean? Everyone who creates bonsai knows "artistic conception realm," so here I will also share my own understanding.
(1) Habitat realm: A bonsai must create a bonsai "habitat realm" brimming with natural beauty. We can draw on the extraordinary landscaping principle proposed by Cao Xueqin of the Qing Dynasty in the Grand View Garden of "Dream of the Red Chamber": "Follow the principle of nature, attain the delight of nature"; and we should further understand and apply what Ji Cheng of the Ming Dynasty said in "The Craft of Gardens": "Although made by human hands, it appears as if heaven created it," and "Naturally forming the delight of nature, without troubling the labor of human affairs." Ji Cheng took "natural beauty" as the source and premise of landscaping. I believe these classic statements are principles we should first understand and flexibly apply in our bonsai creation. There is also: the Southern Liang poet Wang Ji's lines "Cicadas chirp, yet the forest grows quieter; birds sing, yet the mountain grows more secluded," and "Refreshingly borrow the clear breeze, brightly borrow the moon; in motion observe flowing water, in stillness observe the mountains"; Ouyang Xiu's poem "The clear breeze and bright moon are originally priceless; near waters and distant mountains all have feeling." Bonsai is a miniature landscape, and its creation must reflect scenes of life; it is the concentration of life scenes. Only when a bonsai treats life with full enthusiasm, preserves one beautiful fragment of life after another, stores up ample material for bonsai creation, and has rich and varied "habitat realm" expressive material, can a bonsai work of taste be created. It can be said that the "habitat realm" material of mountains and waters, flowers and birds is the source of bonsai artistic creation.
(2) Painting realm: Bonsai is a three-dimensional painting and a silent poem. The creation of our Chinese bonsai must conform to the basic principles of painting theory. There is a famous poem: "Take a piece of clay, shape a you, knead a me; then smash them together; reshape a you, knead again a me, I contain you, you contain me." The "habitat realm" and "painting realm" in the process of bonsai creation also interpenetrate each other in this way.
In the language of Western art theory, the painting realm is "ComPosition." In painting it is translated as "composition," in music as "composing," and in landscaping as "layout." Our Chinese painting theory is broad and profound, and it is the uniquely advantaged theoretical foundation for us cultivators of varieties.
We should cultivate a solid grounding in painting and master painting techniques. Everyone knows: the bonsai works of Chinese bonsai art master Zhao Qingquan are natural and fresh, and his mastery of the techniques of painting mountains and Chinese poetry has reached the level of complete integration and ease; the bonsai of Chinese bonsai art master He Gansun is of extremely high taste, and he is a professor at an art academy! Everyone can also look at the director of the Bonsai China Forum: Lu Yongqiang's grasp and expression of bonsai; he has very deep basic skills in painting. His bonsai design drawings and bonsai works have clearly reached a quite high realm. Therefore, bonsai creators must study aesthetic theory more, continuously accumulate aesthetic cultivation, and especially master the techniques of Chinese landscape painting. This is very important for us to create artistic bonsai of high taste.
In creating bonsai, we must flexibly apply the techniques of Chinese landscape painting and accurately meet the requirements of the "painting realm." We must do well in the layout links such as selection and omission and generalization. This is to make the expressive elements in our bonsai flow and interpenetrate and shine together, grasp well the beginning, continuation, transition, and conclusion, and create a bonsai work full of charm and high taste.
(3) Artistic conception realm: Chinese bonsai is a work of art that originates from nature yet is higher than nature; the work must express a feeling, convey a wish, and pour out an ideal. What our bonsai works express: beautiful feelings, beautiful aspirations, beautiful character, and a beautiful society. This is the artistic conception of bonsai. The plants, rocks, accessories, titles, and the choice of the environment in which the bonsai is placed that we use to create landforms in bonsai all serve the expression of the bonsai's artistic conception.
The artistic conception of bonsai is the center that everyone has always emphasized and expressed. Everyone's understanding and application of it are much deeper than mine. I will not show off my slight skill before an expert here.
In short, in the process of bonsai creation: "habitat realm," "painting realm," and "artistic conception realm" are three interlinked and inseparable links of Chinese bonsai artistic realm that fully integrate. As long as we grasp and apply these three links well, our bonsai will certainly become more and more beautiful!!!
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