Artist Words 自白
Questions and answers about art
藝問藝答
84年開始我的第一個展覧以來，每次在展覽場地與觀眾溝通時，他們都提出不少問題。我選擇其中數個，在此透過問與答輕鬆地談論一下藝術。
就由84年開始，有一位女士指著我一幅畫問：’畫得幾筆，那豈不是很容易畫一幅畫？‘。先介紹這幅畫，它是描繪一隻白露在水中覓食，湖面波平如鏡，四週清幽寧靜，只聞微微風聲。為留著這詩意的畫面，我選擇以簡潔寫意的手法作畫，畫面真的是聊聊數筆、線條簡單、色彩比較含蓄及留白甚多。那時初出茅廬，年少氣盛，聽到這句帶負評的問題，心中難免有點不悅。尚幸略識禮儀，未有惡言反駁，只微笑説了一句：開筆容易收筆難！
這句話是我老師周綠雲對我的提㸃。初入門的畫家，有一個常犯的毛病，就是畫畫畫，加點東，加㸃西，惟恐畫面不夠豐富，色彩不夠層次，人家會批評自己畫技不足，在信心不足下寧多勿少。周老師提點我，是希望我建立自己的信心，覺得夠就停筆，以免畫蛇添足。
這個道理，對於不懂繪畫的觀衆，是難以理解的，所以這位女士面露不滿意的神色，急歩離去。事件未終結，十年後，即1994年，那是我另一次個展。我又重遇這位女士，今次，她的態度截然不同，跑過來要與我合照，又表示大為欣賞我的作品，她了解什麼是簡潔之美。原來過去十年，她愛上攝影，十年間，她已經成為專業攝影師，如今，她明白創作過程中有時候要放，有時候要收了。
在94年這個展覧會中，遇到另一個問題。有一天，一羣中學生由老師帶領，到來參觀畫展。為他們導賞展覧途中，一位學生問我，’怎樣可以畫到一幅有型的畫？‘，我看看這位青年，外型不俗，不難差想他有這一個問題。我很快的回答：自己有型就得。眾人都笑了，但我看得出這些學生不太掌握到我的答案，甚至覺得我在捉弄他們。我唯有進一步解說：
藝術作品本身表達了創作者的內心深處。
我們不能特意去畫出「有型」，而是作品自然流露作者的「有型」。
用一個日常例子來說說，一位媽媽，當她準備弄餐的時候，她不會考慮菜怎樣炒可以以表達對子女的愛，湯怎麼煲可以表現自己關心家人，餐具怎樣擺放來突顯聚餐的意義等等。在媽媽的心中，只會留意天氣變化、家人健康、各人口味及怎樣煮得可口等問題。在餐桌上，吃著媽媽的菜，喝著用心煲的靚湯，你自然感受到她的愛心。
也談談一個近期遇到的問題。有位年輕藝術家來我家探訪，閒聊時她透露自己初接觸水墨畫，想作多方面的嘗試。她練習了一些寫生小品，水果蔬菜、花鳥蟲魚、日常生活用品用和人物等等，但是，漸漸感到無以為繼。很多時候拿起畫筆坐在枱前，腦袋卻一片空白，茫茫然下不了筆，畫什麼好呢？她問我:怎樣找題材、怎樣找靈感？
聽到這個問題後，我不能立即想到答案。我自有記憶以來，常常畫東畫西，隨手就畫，什麼也愛畫。見到新的媒介時，一定買回家，試驗色彩效果一番，不亦樂乎。我細心想過，腦海裏的確沒有‘唔知道畫什麼’這個念頭。人家誠意請教，總不能回答自己未試過缺乏創作意念。於是，我告訴她待我想想再解答她這個問題。
第二天，我打電話給一位資深藝術家好友，將這個問題轉給他。他聽後，哈哈大笑説: 我想畫的實在太多，怕的是時間不夠。和你一樣，無這樣的經驗。
沒有答案，唯有硏究我們二人的共通㸃。分析自己很難，就先看看我這位好友吧。我認識他多年，人很親和，與家人及朋友關係非常好。他除了繪畫外，興趣廣泛，喜愛表演藝術、運動、種植及烹㶵等。他對生活上遇到的事情都有好奇心。每次見他，大家都話題多多。
我好像和他很相近，興趣多多，正是‘八足咁多爪’。我找到解開謎團的鎖匙了。靈感四處都有，但是，你想捉它，又永遠捉不到。如果你生活豐富，對週圍的環境、事情和人物都充滿好奇心，眼看不停、打開心扉感受世界，靈感就會出現，不用花盡心思去尋求。
過了一段時間，再遇到那位迷網的年輕藝術家時，我告訴她：你的生活經驗，就是滋養靈感的原料。盡情享受生活、打開你的眼睛，拿出你這對這個世界的熱情吧，靈感會找上門的。
這個問題的解答，令我非常感恩。回顧數十年的創作生涯，我非常享受創作的樂趣，我的人生經歷影響了我的藝術，藝術也使我的人生更豐盛。
Since my first exhibition in 1984, the exhibition visitors have always asked me a lot of questions about art whenever I interact with them at the exhibition venue. I have chosen a few of these questions to casually discuss about art here.
In 1984, a lady pointed at a painting of mine and asked, "Just a few strokes? Isn’t it easy to create a painting then?" Let me introduce this painting first. It depicts a white egret looking for food in the water. The surface of the water is smooth like a mirror and the surrounding is tranquil with gentle breeze only. To retain this poetic scene, I chose to paint in a simple and freehand way. The painting is drawn with a few strokes of simple lines, relatively subtle colours, and much white space. At that time, I was just starting out as a young artist. When I heard her question with a negative tone, I was inevitably somewhat upset in my heart. To maintain proper social etiquette, I did not say anything bad in return. I just smiled and said, “The first brushstroke is easy; completing the final one is hard. ”
This was an advice from my teacher Irene Chou. A common mistake that novice artists make is to add too much to their paintings. They worry that the painting is not interesting enough or that the colours are not layered enough, and others will criticize them for their lack of painting skills. If they are not confident enough, they would rather do more than less. Teacher Chou gave me the advice in the hope that I would be able to build up my confidence and finish a painting when I think it is good enough.
It was not an easy concept for people who do not know much about painting, so the lady looked dissatisfied and left quickly. The incident was not over yet. Ten years later, in 1994, I had another solo exhibition where I met this lady again. This time, her attitude was completely different. She came over to take a photo with me, expressed her great appreciation for my work, and mentioned how she now understands the beauty of simplicity. In the past ten years, she has fallen in love with photography and became a professional photographer. She now understands that in the creative process, we have to know when to let go.
During this exhibition in 1994, I encountered another question. One day, a group of middle school students, led by their teacher, came to visit my art exhibition. During a guided tour of the exhibition, a student asked me, “How do I draw a cool painting?” This young man looked stylish, so I was not surprised with his question. I quickly answered, “You just have to be cool.” Everyone laughed, but I could see that the students did not quite understand what I meant. It almost seemed like I was teasing them. Therefore, I explained further:
We cannot deliberately draw a “cool” painting. The artwork should naturally reveal how “cool” the artist is.
Here is an example of a mother’s daily life. When a mother is preparing a meal, she will not think of how to cook the food to express her love for her children, how to make the soup to show that she cares about her family, nor how to place the tableware to emphasize the meaning of a having a meal together as a family. In a mother's mind, she only pays attention to issues such as weather changes, the family’s wellbeing, everyone's taste, and how to cook delicious food. Together at the dining table, you will naturally feel her love while enjoying the food she prepared for you.
Let’s also talk about another question I encountered recently. A young artist came to visit me at my home. During our conversation, she mentioned that she was new to ink painting and wanted to try it in different aspects. She practiced painting things from everyday life, such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, birds, insects, fish, daily necessities, people and so on. However, she gradually felt lost. Sometimes she would pick up a paintbrush and just sit in front of a table with an empty mind not knowing where to start. She asked, “How do you find ideas? How do you find inspirations?”
I could not think of an answer right away. For as long as I can remember, I have been painting everything and anything that comes to mind. Whenever I find a new medium, I would always buy it and test out the new color effects at home. It’s an infinite delight. The question "I don't know what to draw" really never came to my mind. Therefore, I told her that I need some time to think about it and would answer her question later.
The next day, I called a senior artist friend of mine to ask for his opinion. After hearing the question, he laughed out loud and said, “I have too many ideas and I am only afraid of not having enough time to draw everything. Just like you, I have no such experience.”
We were not able to come up with an answer, so I tried to analyze what we have in common. It is hard to analyze myself though. Let’s take a look at my good friend first. We have been friends for many years. He is a very friendly person and has a very good relationship with his family and friends. Besides painting, he has a wide variety of interests, such as performing arts, sports, planting and cooking. He is curious about everything he encounters in life. Whenever I see him, we always have a lot of topics to chat about.
It seems like we have a lot of similarities and both of us have lots of hobbies. I have found the key to the mystery. Inspiration is everywhere, but you will never be able to catch it if you try to catch it intentionally. We should try to live life to the fullest and be curious about the surrounding environment, things and people. If you keep your eyes open and open your heart to experience the world, inspiration will appear naturally.
After a while, when I met the young artist again, I told her, “Your life experience is the raw material for nourishing inspiration. Enjoy life to the fullest. Open your eyes and bring out your passion for the world. Inspiration will then come to you.”
I am very grateful to have the chance to answer this question. Looking back on my decades of creative career, I derive great pleasure from the creative process. My life experiences have influenced my art, and art has also enriched my life.