Today, on its last day, I wanted to go to the exhibition my teacher Ma Qingxiong and his students had put out in Concord - I think I had mentioned that I fell in love with that most ancient of painting traditions, Chinese brush painting.
Of course, in the morning, I couldn’t find the name of the church. I emailed Ma Qingxiong, but he did not answer. Without the name of the church, I could not find it online either.
Then, ten minutes after noon, there was his message with the address., and I rushed out – because the show was to close at 1 pm. Traffic was harder than I thought possible on a Sunday, but I made it to Concord, MA – only to get thoroughly lost. The street signs were skimpy, nice people I asked gave vague directions to wrong places. I landed in a Trinitarian Church – when I was supposed to be at the Trinity Church. From there, a friendly gentleman directed me to the other church – and I got lost again.
By now, it was long beyond one o’clock, and I was desperate. Now, to miss an exhibition is not the end of the world, but … Even if I would find the place, in all likelihood it would be closed. However, my life has taught me not to give up if there is even the tiniest chance of success. So I accosted a lady who walked her dog.
She gave directions but then interrupted herself and, with a long look, asked me what I wanted in the church. Because she was sure that by now it was closed.
Exactly! I said – but I want so much to see the Chinese brush paintings!
In that case, she said, I better get into your car, because I am the curator of the show, and I have the church key on me. - Her name was Margaret.
Bless Margaret! She opened the church door for me, and I took my time to look at the paintings, all alone. Then I switched off the lights and pulled shut the door after me, as I had promised.
The moral: Don’t give up too early - because strange, wonderful coincidences do occur. This was not the first time something like this happened to me – only the newest. And if it can happen to me, it can happen to you! The secret seems to be to stick around long enough so that the Universe can come to your help.
I thank the lady with the little dog - and Providence, or whatever you want to call it. Read More
Blog: On Health. On Writing. On Life. On Everything.
The Soft Martial Art
January 11, 2011
Because of the Chinese novel I am writing, I am learning Chinese - for two years already. This winter I also enrolled in a class for Chinese brush painting.
Not so much for the painting - I have only a little talent there. But for learning more about the cultural background of calligraphy (writing of Chinese characters) and brush painting in general.
Already the first session made me happy because it fed me so many little tidbits: The whole calligraphy thing is not so much about putting scribbles on paper – no it is about breathing, sitting straight, holding the brush just right, and to concentrate. Calligraphy is also called the “soft martial art” – who would have known?? Chinese people think that calligraphy promotes longevity.
In brush painting, one needs the Four Treasures: brush, paper, ink stick and ink stone. The ink stick is ground on the ink stone with water to produce the ink. Nowadays, one can buy ready-made ink in a bottle, which I use in class. At home, I prefer grinding my ink stick all the while already thinking about what I want to paint. I like the transformation of water into a writing liquid – the archaic process that happens here and now.
Chinese art is very different from Western art. Whereas we emphasize individual freedom, Chinese brush painting teaches traditional forms. You learn the basics before you start experimenting. There is one kind of stroke for the bamboo leaf, one kind of stroke for the bamboo stem, one kind of stroke for the bamboo node. I will learn strokes for plums blossoms, orchid grass, chrysanthemum flowers, and later strokes for pines, rocks, clouds and water. And you use a different brush for each of these strokes.
Bamboo, plum blossom, Chinese orchid and chrysanthemum – they are also called The Four Gentlemen. Because those four plants stand for character traits the Chinese have held in high esteem since olden times: Bamboo leaves are green in the winter. Bamboo bends in the wind but barely breaks, and if it breaks, it sprouts new leaves from the breaking point. So, bamboo stands for adhering to principles; also for flexibility and resourcefulness. Plum blossoms flower in mid-winter – right around now they will start – and represent cheerful survival. Chinese orchids are much less showy than our usual flower shop specimen, they are prized for they modesty, for their working without anybody noticing – yet doing a marvelous job. Chrysanthemums (“mums”) bloom in the fall when not much else does, thus calling to mind a proud, tough gentleman. – A white chrysanthemum is also used as an herb in Chinese medicine.
Perhaps you scoff at the idea that brush painting is a martial art. But let me tell you that I had muscle aches in my right arm after my first two-and-a-half-hours session: You do use your muscles.
And in these times of social networking and multi-tasking, I cherish anything that brings back the rapidly dwindling art of concentration. Read More