"On Painting" is a compilation of articles I have written at various times in recent years, addressing issues related to painting. I have reorganized them according to the logic of art history, resulting in a systematic reflection on painting issues over the past few years. To enrich the discussion on painting issues, I have also included the essay "Art History: Pleasure, Image, and Identity." This piece provides an analysis of the status and characteristics of painting in contemporary art history, examining two specific cases.
Historically, our understanding of the value of painting has often been confined to analyses of "style," "language," "form," and "technique." Evaluation of painting with a background in Chinese traditional culture has been couched in terms such as "cultivation," "taste," "character," and "brushwork." Even today, the critical discourse has yet to form a vocabulary logic completely divorced from Western art history, making our analysis of new paintings somewhat challenging. Nevertheless, I adhere to a historical perspective when considering painting: observing the words and deeds of any artist within a specific historical context or framework to discover its issues and values.
The publication of "On Painting" coincides with my sixtieth birthday. This booklet serves as both an assignment and a commemoration in the study of art history.