Review – MIANHUA STUDIO

Reviews

“Mianhua is adept at capturing the vitality and power of a marvelous and complex interaction. In a balanced fashion, the colors blend in, light and dark, expand and contract on the canvas while, calming and intensifying the viewer’s gaze. Conveying the intangible forces behind matter seems to be her obsession, realized in an expressive, lively and at the same time masterfully controlled brushstroke.”

“Among all the creations of contemporary art, it is easy to identify some ‘smart works’. But Mianhua’s works never fall into this category. Quoting any art theory to analyze Mianhua’s art works seems to lose effectiveness. Those games and fun that contemporary art has all dwell in conceptual art, have nothing to do with her practice. She never cares or ingratiates herself with the attention economy pertaining to art. It’s the magnificent beauty of heaven and earth, the fate and the vital decisions in ancient Greek drama, the mysterious gravity between stars and the irresistible magic of life that are resonating with her.”

“Through Mianhua’s paintings, we are able to touch the inner power and deep secret of life, and even passion and ecstasy. Such aesthetic ecstasy is similar to religious zeal, and in this sense, Mianhua’s painting can be seen as a religion worshiping nature. Clive Bell had a metaphysical assumption when elaborating on art as a meaningful form that, just like religion, art is the pursuit of the ultimate being which transcends the secular world. Mianhua unveils this ultimate being related to life, which is a pure world detached from the earth. Contemplating on it, we can derive an unworldly happiness. “

“Her artworks seem to have a magical power to suck us in. What a magical journey it would be if the audience could truly enter her art world?The artist is an expert in capturing the beautiful sceneries on our planet mirrored by colors. Like an alchemist, she selects the hues of flowers, sea and sky, then merges them in her paintings.”

“No trace of anger or pain can be found in Mianhua’s works. Any trials to search ‘social realism’ in her works will definitely prove to be in vain. She withstands with being labeled with political philosophy. Mianhua owns the joy originating from nature and stands in awe of nature and life. Not everyone is fortunate enough to gain insight into her life connotation and works. Nonetheless, a viewer who understands Mianhua will certainly appreciate the beauty, tranquility, soft toughness in all her works. She speaks a global common language to express emotions without showing off grandeur at all. “

“Mianhua doesn’t belong to professionally trained artists. She is special. Curators favor exceptional cases for their shows. In Europe and America, especially in the United States, most of the artists who have succeeded in getting into the art market are independent artists. There is a word called “genius” in western art theory, which could be interpreted as someone born with exceptional talent. Genius refers to a certain kind of instinct, an artist driven by his or her instinct. A friend of mine who teaches art theories in Chicago published a book in which he makes an argument that artists cannot be educated or taught to be, for art-making simply couldn’t be taught. I couldn’t agree more. The essential element of art is an extraordinary disposition, which is basically innate. What we can teach students are basically some skills, which are far from enough to make someone an artist. To become an artist, one must have a natural endowment.”

“Contemporary art, including some specific art genres, is very abstract in themselves. And the expression of the abstract is only to be accomplished through a certain means. It is expected that the works shall reflect on human soul and the spiritual world. A painter actively manifests his own life experience and feelings, and embodies them by means of a specific medium. Of course, there are also artists dealing with the realistic. These artists paint women, flowers, ponds, and sunrises. But in fact, in the process of painting, the scenes in the picture are not what they truly want to express. Actually, they are using brushes to infinitely approach their souls and to reach an awareness of inner feelings. When I looked at Mianhua’s paintings, what astonished me was that she could fulfill that part instantaneously.”

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