文/李丫涯
吳冠中(1919-2010)
遺忘的雪
一九九六年作
油彩 畫布
91×100cm
The Baihua Mountain in the outskirts of Beijing is very high, so the temperature on the top is very low. In May, the peach blossoms at the mountain foot had long since faded, but up here they had just blossomed. I was slowly exploring the forest, and I suddenly found a large pile of snow, resembling a source of a mountain stream. As it was surrounded by the dark forest, it seemed extraordinarily white. This whiteness was somewhat lonely, as if the spring forgot it, a leftover from the winter.
— Wu Guanzhong, Forgetful Snow
Wu Guanzhong’s life creation represents a microcosm of the modern Chinese art development in the 20th century. From 1947 to 1950, he studied art in France in the école nationale supérieure des beaux-arts, and during that time, he was inspired by the bold and strong expression of Western Impressionist masters. Previously, while at the National Hangzhou Academy of Art, he had accepted the concept of blending the best of both East and West, and this experience had allowed him to start his life-long exploration of formal aesthetics in his later practice.
In 1991, he was made an Officier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture. One year later, he succeeded in breaking the British Museum’s convention of only displaying historical pieces and became the first living artist to hold a solo exhibition there. In 2000, he became the first Asian artist awarded the Medaille des Arts et Lettres by the Académie des Beaux-Arts in the Institut de France. Throughout his life, he had published more than 70 art criticism essays, and the artistic proposition he put forward had laid the foundation for the nationalization of Chinese oil painting and had exerted an inestimable influence on the academic development of modern Chinese art.
Milestone
Wu Guanzhong created four works titled Forgetful Snow. The first two were small sketches by ink oil and ink. The Forgetful Snow featured in this auction was created later, and it captures the essence of the two previous paintings. It clearly demonstrates that in the 1990s, Wu had reached the peak of his artistic career, both in oil and ink painting. In 1997, Wu once again painted Forgetful Snow, this time with colour ink, and then he donated the work into the collection of the Singapore Art Museum. This proves his special sentiment toward this theme and the work’s high artistic value.
In recent years, Wu Guanzhong’s large-scale oil paintings have been rare in the art market. This painting, included in the artist’s complete works and many important publications, focuses on the main style of Wu’s practice in the 1990s. In 1999 when it was completed, Wu personally selected this piece to participate in the large-scale, solo “Wu Guanzhong Art Exhibition” held by the National Art Museum of China. It was the first solo exhibition of a living artist officially held by the Ministry of Culture and an important milestone in the history of Chinese contemporary art. After that, the work was purchased by an overseas collector, and after 17 years, this work is now being featured in the autumn auction of China Guardian Hong Kong, a chance the collectors cannot miss!
Serene Mood: The Combination of Oil and Ink
Compared with the previous sketch and the later ink work stored in the Singapore Art Museum, this Forgetful Snow is more concise in composition. The large area created using the flat-coating technique shows a similar artistic appeal to Early Spring by Northern Song (960–1127) painter Guo Xi. Wu used heavy oil on small details to create visual layering, reminiscent of the light and shadow changes present in Claude Monet’s Water Lilies. As such, he was able to give the two-dimensional snow a three-dimensional lighting effect.
This work is also more simplified in terms of colour use. The artist uses techniques similar to ink painting and expresses mountains, trees, flowers, stones, and other objects on the canvas in a way close to abstraction, indicating the serene mood he was able to achieve in old age.
Always True to His Original Pursuit
In traditional Chinese aesthetics, snow has always been a common theme among the literati, and Wu Guanzhong had always had a sentiment toward it. Throughout his life, he constantly explored the beauty of snow and created classic works such as Landscape of Northern China (1973) and Snowscape in Beijing (1975). Such became the epitome of his personal artistic pursuit.
In Forgetful Snow, the artist arranges the snow that should have melted as the protagonist of the picture, forming a stark contrast with the warm weather in May. The word forgetful expresses an old man’s attachment to the past and embodies the expression of “emotions hidden in the form”. While revealing the beauty of the lonely pile of snow, the artist shows the vitality of the surrounding plants and the breath of the coming spring to encourage himself not to worry about being forgotten. When one sees the eternal charm presented on the picture, one seems to hear Wu’s pledge to art and beauty: “If life could start again, I would still look for the beauty of nature.”
吳冠中的一生體現(xiàn)了二十世紀中國現(xiàn)代美術(shù)的發(fā)展進程。他于1947至1950年間赴法求藝,在巴黎國立高等美術(shù)學校(école nationale supérieure des beaux-arts)學習時受西方印象派大師大膽、強烈的表現(xiàn)形式啟發(fā),結(jié)合此前在杭州藝專所接受的“東西融合”的藝術(shù)理念滋養(yǎng),開啟一生“他山之石,可以攻玉”的形式美學探索之路;在承接其導師林風眠二十世紀之初對于中國水墨畫的現(xiàn)代性革新的基礎(chǔ)上,于70年代展開對“形式美”與“抽象美”的深入研究,不遺余力的推動中國現(xiàn)代繪畫的觀念革新,成為二十世紀中國美術(shù)向現(xiàn)代轉(zhuǎn)型的進程中最令人尊敬的先行者。
1992年3月,吳冠中與朱德群于其大英博物館個展期間留念
90年代,吳冠中走出國門,以兼具“水、油、墨”、“灰、白、黑”、 “畫、文、詩”三個“三方凈土”、個性鮮明、深具東方寫意內(nèi)蘊的風景繪畫名揚國際,于1991年獲法國文化部授予“法國文藝最高勛位”,來年,更成功打破大英博物館只展古代文物的慣例,成為獲邀舉辦個人畫展的在世藝術(shù)家第一人,并在2000年成為首位獲選法蘭西學院藝術(shù)院通訊院士殊榮的亞洲藝術(shù)家。
與其數(shù)之不盡的成就相對,吳冠中的個性,卻如其筆下潔白無瑕的雪般簡單、真實,容不得一絲對美的玷污,他不懼傳統(tǒng)思想的固有成見,不斷發(fā)表對形式美學實踐的藝術(shù)成果,一生出版藝術(shù)評論文集、散文集逾70種,以“風箏不斷線”的美術(shù)思想奠定中國油畫民族化的精神內(nèi)核,對中國現(xiàn)代美術(shù)的學術(shù)發(fā)展產(chǎn)生了不可估量的巨大影響。
里程碑的寫照:集人生風格之大成
1996年5月,吳冠中攜夫人朱碧琴一同赴北京郊外百花山寫生,山頂林木深處一灣冰凍溪流上覆蓋的厚厚積雪,猶如“隱藏的美人”般,吸引了他的目光,據(jù)其在《雪》一文中回憶“無論如何,這是被遺忘了的雪,觸動心弦,我于是用油彩和水墨分別捕捉了《遺忘的雪》?!彼昂蠊怖L制了四幅《遺忘的雪》,前兩幅分別為在百花山觀景即日所作的小幅油畫及水墨寫生稿,是次上拍的《遺忘的雪》乃藝術(shù)家在汲取前兩幅畫稿之精髓的基礎(chǔ)上,經(jīng)深思熟慮后所作的大幅油畫,充分彰顯了其90年代所言的“水陸兼程”的藝術(shù)高度,即在油畫(行陸路)及彩墨(走水墨)兩方面均至達創(chuàng)作的巔峰!次年,吳冠中又在此件油畫作品基礎(chǔ)上用彩墨再次構(gòu)繪,并捐之贈予新加坡美術(shù)館典藏,突顯藝術(shù)家對該作尤為看重的特殊情感,以及份量十足的藝術(shù)價值。
1996年,吳冠中夫婦在京郊百花山
《遺忘的雪》為近年鮮見于市的吳冠中大尺幅油畫作品,收錄于藝術(shù)家全集之中,另有諸多重要出版紀錄,謂集吳冠中90年代創(chuàng)作風格特色之大成的人生代表作。創(chuàng)作完成后,由藝術(shù)家親自挑選參加1999年中國美術(shù)館為其舉辦的大型“吳冠中藝術(shù)展”,此展為中國政府首次以“文化部”官方名義為在世藝術(shù)家舉辦的個展,在中國當代藝術(shù)史中有著重要的里程碑要義。之后,該作由海外資深藏家悉心購藏,時隔17年后,今秋現(xiàn)身嘉德拍場,實屬藏家之幸!
對景造意:成就斐然的“形式美”探索
50年代中,在清華大學和北京藝術(shù)學院任教期間,適逢提倡文藝工作者深入體驗生活,畫家外出寫生蔚然成風,吳冠中便從此開始了“背著畫箱走天涯”。他將自我對于點、線節(jié)奏的敏感優(yōu)勢充分發(fā)揮,視大自然為可供發(fā)掘形式美的題材,無論是開闊平原,還是林間一隅,都能在其筆下轉(zhuǎn)化為形式結(jié)構(gòu)關(guān)系的表現(xiàn),亦如水天中感嘆:“吳冠中的畫與同時代主流畫家的畫有明顯的不同——他不是為宣傳某種政策、體現(xiàn)某一思想、紀念某一事件而畫,而是為探索繪畫的形式,營造情調(diào)和意境,以『擺脫一切客觀利害約束』的心態(tài)作畫。他的這種觀念,歷經(jīng)風風雨雨之剝蝕而不變。” 他向“內(nèi)容決定形式”固有觀念發(fā)起挑戰(zhàn),以“形式美”為“抽象美”辯護,生發(fā)出視角多元、格局新穎、風格鮮明的畫風獨步畫壇。進入90年代,他的創(chuàng)作如同“大江入海”,在歷經(jīng)數(shù)十年耕耘后,將畫面的形式美感打磨至一個更加開闊浩蕩的視野與境界,《遺忘的雪》便凝聚了吳冠中一生對“形式美”的思考成果。
《遺忘的雪》中,藝術(shù)家采俯瞰與仰視兩種視角,通過中景式聚焦構(gòu)圖描繪了深林環(huán)雪的山頂一隅。皚皚積雪自中心向四周覆蓋,將密林切割成環(huán)狀繞其四周,連系著遠景的山巒與前景的山石,蜿蜒伸展中隱藏著運動的脈絡(luò)、氣韻的流轉(zhuǎn),使畫面呈現(xiàn)出“回環(huán)往覆”的動感。類似環(huán)型構(gòu)圖??梢娪趨枪谥袆?chuàng)作之中,如在其70年代的“桂林寫生”系列中的樹環(huán)湖泊,但慣被用作遠景構(gòu)圖中的一部分,且多為實景地貌的客觀紀錄。自90年代起,方中帶圓的環(huán)形構(gòu)圖以主體呈現(xiàn),如在《野景(倒影)》(1990)中,被用以對古井的特寫;而發(fā)展至《遺忘的雪》中,該形式不再為客觀寫景,而是轉(zhuǎn)為服膺于藝術(shù)家主觀意境上的塑造。雪被圍繞于林中成為主角,好似與世隔離,貼合了藝術(shù)家心中“遺忘”的感官表達,展現(xiàn)出吳冠中在90年代超越一般意義上的審美、著力展現(xiàn)人生感悟的形式追求。
初生綠意的樹干枝椏于積雪四周展姿而出,斑駁細碎的筆觸點染出樹枝的粗糙質(zhì)感,亦勾勒其曲折清奇、疏朗伶佇之形態(tài)。樹干前后錯綜、由高至矮,表達了空間之深邃、地勢之起伏,其姿豎立向上,與彌漫其間的橫展積雪構(gòu)成視覺制衡的同時,鋪陳出“春生”與“冬逝”的意藴,以西方表現(xiàn)形式達到石濤所謂“筆鋒下決出生活”之意境主張。背景中平涂、薄質(zhì)的油彩肌理如水墨般的流暢輕靈,刻畫出山間的氤氳霧氣;寬大恣意的塊狀筆觸形成深淺交迭的塊面層次,締造縱深遞進的視覺效果,勾勒參差起伏的綿延林貌;纖細輕盈的線條飛舞枝頭,“東風梳弄柳叢”之姿躍然而出;星星細點的嫩蕊點綴椏尖,與左下大筆頓點的零星白雪構(gòu)成呼應(yīng)。藝術(shù)家通過爐火純青的技法,駕輕就熟的以點、線、面的交織布局,塑造出畫面內(nèi)蘊意涵的形式美感,展現(xiàn)如范寬般“對景造意,不取繁飾,寫山真骨,自成一家”的畫中精韻。
空靈意涵:風箏不斷線的“抽象美”
“相當于國畫中的空白,油畫中也必須有極重要的視而不見的部分。這部分既為意境服務(wù),又能給觀眾以美的享受,要虛而不虛,不空洞,不乏味。??在國畫中引進實不易,在油畫中引進虛尤難?!?/P>
—— 吳冠中
吳冠中《春雪》油彩 畫布 135×85cm,1979年作,中國國家博物館典藏
吳冠中曾在《繪畫的形式美》一文中強調(diào)“美感之產(chǎn)生多半緣于形象結(jié)構(gòu)或色彩組織的藝術(shù)效果”?!哆z忘的雪》便以凝練的用色進一步突顯純凈靜美的畫面氣氛。吳冠中喜用“白”,稱其為最美的顏色,故“白墻”、 “白雪”成為其筆下最具代表性的元素。《遺忘的雪》中,畫面中央的大片積雪彷佛中國山水畫中的留白,既有寫景之用,呈雪的皓白純潔之色;又作抽象意境的傳達,展“白”的空靈純凈之美。與80年代其筆下“江南白墻”中的大面積薄質(zhì)平涂的“白”不同,《遺忘的雪》中,藝術(shù)家在積雪上、中、下方均迭加了數(shù)筆厚重筆觸,形成色階變化的光影效果,以及起伏跌宕的肌理質(zhì)感。白雪之白中,油彩的綿密遞變,傳遞出生命流動的節(jié)奏,“虛而不虛”之間,將風景提升至美感的高妙層次,透射出澄明通透的精神意境。
環(huán)繞白雪的山林被藝術(shù)家意象的以灰色調(diào)鋪就,突顯其90年代喜用灰、白營造虛實、明暗對比的習慣,亦在視覺上制造出疏密張力、形成積雪與山林俯視效果的縱深地勢。褐黃的大地色調(diào)在灰與綠中若隱若現(xiàn)的調(diào)和過渡,制造出山中尚處半夢半醒、曖昧涌動的春意。遠遠觀望,此刻冬雪靜白、春柳微綠、遠山偏青,濕潤的堤岸帶生褐色,彼此間的色彩融洽和諧。枝頭疏疏的嫩柳、湖岸角落自雪中冒生的新綠,被藝術(shù)家以草綠的簡筆帶出;初冒新芽的各色花蕊,則通過明黃、翠綠、朱紅、嫩粉色彩點抽象式的鑲嵌,形成如康丁斯基(Wassily Kandinsky)抽象畫中的色律動感,傳遞出生命覺醒的活力,細節(jié)處側(cè)觀出吳冠中“風箏不斷線”的核心藝術(shù)價值觀。
有我之境:“水陸兼程”的心象風景
吳冠中《遺忘的雪》 油彩 畫布 51×61cm,1996年作,私人收藏
與寫生稿和此后新加坡美術(shù)館所藏的水墨作品相較,本件《遺忘的雪》在構(gòu)圖上更為洗練,既在大面積平涂的技法中深得如北宋大師郭熙《早春圖》中山水深遠、寒林虛空的要領(lǐng),又在局部細節(jié)處利用油彩肌理打造視覺層次,打造出莫內(nèi)(Claude Monet)《睡蓮》中的光影變化,在平面的虛實之中加入三維空間的疏密映襯,締造出白花山間深邃幽靜與積雪新綠氣韻交融的空靈畫境,可謂動靜結(jié)合,渾然天成。
而在用色上,此作也更趨單純內(nèi)斂,山、樹、花、石、均脫離了寫實追求,將水墨點彩的色彩之釋放,吸收在油彩的厚實之中,展現(xiàn)更貼近藝術(shù)家近耄耋之年的坦然、從容的心境。
遺世獨立:“雪”鑒初心的藝術(shù)回望
吳冠中《遺忘的雪》 彩墨 紙本 91×100cm,1997年作,新加坡美術(shù)館典藏
“雪”在中國傳統(tǒng)美學中一直是文人墨客吟詠的對象 ,吳冠中更是對“雪”情有獨鐘,謂其是難得的形式和內(nèi)容統(tǒng)一的美之構(gòu)成,更是中國審美意識中“寫景融情”的最佳載體,他一生不斷挖掘“雪”的形式美,留下如《北國風光》(1973)、《春雪》(1979)等諸多美術(shù)史經(jīng)典,成為其個人藝術(shù)追求的理想化身。
令人不禁聯(lián)想到同為東方風景大師的日本藝術(shù)家東山魁夷(Kaii Higashiyama)晚年筆下幽曠靜謐的山峽雪景。然而在《遺忘的雪》中,吳冠中結(jié)合中國傳統(tǒng)繪畫講求的“外師造化,中得心源”,在展露白雪落寂之美的同時,更用暗蘊四周的生命力及春的氣息,傳達自我擁抱、釋懷“遺忘”的感悟,他將“雪”于畫中凝固為永恒的靜美,亦如其對“美”永不停歇的追尋。
77歲的吳冠中,眺望過多少回杜甫筆下“侵陵雪色還萱草,漏泄春光有柳條”的冬去春來,卻仍為遺留其中的皚皚白雪駐留腳步,在尋找“美”的道路上,他收獲形式多元的藝術(shù)語言與手法,在精神境界上卻更加質(zhì)樸與單純,偶遇的白雪亦如其對繪畫的初心寫照。當遺忘入畫,便生永恒,我們似乎聽見他對藝術(shù)、對美的堅貞誓言:“人生若如初見”,還要再將自然之美尋一遍。