Landscapes by Shaoxia

Peng De

Professor at Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts, Art Critic

We don't need to discuss Zhang Shaoxia's landscapes from the perspective of techniques and history of style. The Soviet oil paintings he encountered during his student days, such as the works of Levitan and Maximov, as well as the teachings of Russian oil painting passed down through German oil painting, and further, the teachings of French oil painting, all share a similar emphasis on brushwork. The brushwork technique in oil painting has become a convention in our painting over the past seven or eight decades. Therefore, what interests me about Zhang Shaoxia's landscape oil paintings isn't the technique and style of brushwork but rather the subject matter. It is similar to contemporary Chinese ink paintings, where the tools and materials are the same, and the techniques mainly involve a few brushes. However, the subject matter sets painters apart: Qi Baishi's shrimp, Xu Beihong's horse, Zhang Shanzi's tiger, and Huang Zhou's donkey, each showcasing their unique talents.

Memories Left by Video (Close House Golf Club) 120×65cm Oil on Dew-retting Linen Canvas 2021

Shaoxia paints golf courses: lush green grass and towering trees. Golf courses, as imports, do not belong to the original first nature, nor do they belong to the second nature with human background, but rather the carefully designed third nature. Golf courses are like the Chinese-style gardens sought after by ancient officials and merchants, emphasizing mood and taste. Chinese royal and private gardens pursue an otherworldly realm with an old-fashioned charm that emphasizes winding paths, rugged rockeries, small bridges, flowing water, and ancient trees entwined with withered vines. Golf courses are different. The scenes presented to people are usually bright with sunlight and vibrant colors, where lawns, trees, sand, and water complement each other, exuding a youthful and healthy demeanor. As the third nature, the golf course is a scene that exists in reality yet is unreal. In the past forty years, China has seen the emergence of more than four hundred golf courses, with nearly a hundred in just Beijing and Shanghai alone. They serve as benchmarks of the times and gateways for people to yearn for a paradise on Earth. In contrast, the dull and gloomy Chinese landscape oil paintings that have been churned out for decades from the first and second nature, producing uninteresting scenes devoid of history and future, should have been vastly abandoned.

Shaoxia came from the art circle. In the mid-1980s, he collaborated with Li Xiaoshan to write the History of Modern Chinese Painting, making a name for himself. In middle age, Zhang switched to business and became Shanghai's most prominent real estate tycoon. This industry, which nurtures and buries genius, has seen many prominent figures rise and fall. Yet, Shaoxia enjoyed a flourishing career and a graceful retirement, demonstrating his remarkable foresight and accomplishment, making him the talent of his generation. During this time, Shaoxia traveled to major art galleries worldwide and compiled an exquisite book on the history of Western oil painting. He then devoted himself to oil painting, considering it the culmination of his life.

Combination in the Eyes of Painter (Celtic Manor Resort) 120×65cm Oil on Dew-retting Linen Canvas 2023

Shaoxia's title, "Monk Xia," implies his spiritual devotion. I've always thought that literary figures' conversion to religion is just a whim. Although there were people entering monasteries or becoming monks in each era, most did so out of necessity, from Wang Wei to Ni Zan to the Four Monks to Li Shutong, with few exceptions. Once, I had a conversation with Master Mingyuan from the Zhongnan Mountains. I said: "The social issues we face in this era are far more numerous and complex than in the time of Sakyamuni Buddha." Mingyuan replied: "Indeed." I continued: "In that case, monks of your generation should surpass Sakyamuni Buddha." Mingyuan did not directly answer this question from an outsider, but it is the spiritual focal point that all devotees should introspect upon, and Shaoxia would be no exception.