Dedication and Purity
Gao Minglu
PhD from Harvard University, Professor at the State University of New York
Gao Minglu
I can say that Mr. Zhang Shaoxia and I were close friends in spirit. In the 1980s, everyone in the Chinese art world knew about his book "A History of Modern Chinese Painting". We were reading and discussing it. Later on, we had our own directions, and we lost touch. This art exhibition was actually the first time that I had met Zhang Shaoxia. I saw his golf landscapes and read his published notes, art catalogs, textbooks, writings about Western art history, and so on. Also, I listened to him talk about his experiences in business and entrepreneurship. So when I look at his paintings, it seems to me that the golf courses are not just a specialized theme. They should be combined with Zhang Shaoxia's personal experiences. Zhang devoted a lot of effort to his business ventures because the paintings were actually made while he was doing business. He played golf on these golf courses and then painted the landscapes. In his view, each golf course is different, but I feel that his paintings are not conceptual. He doesn't aim to convey any idea or concept through his works. More importantly, I think they are the flow of his observations, mingled with his feelings and emotions at those moments. In this sense, these paintings are quite pure. Whether you call it a landscape or something else, they are pure. Because he didn't think about anything else. When he was creating, he didn't think about which gallery or place these paintings would go to in the future. He was creating wholeheartedly. I think this situation may not be realistic for many artists today, especially younger ones because we face the issue of survival. But when Zhang Shaoxia was creating, he didn't have such worries; he was relaxed. This shows that in reality, it's difficult for us to choose whether to see art as a product of the spirit or a means of making a living. Zhang Shaoxia's experience and his state of painting are related to his multiple identities.
I think there are two key points. First, we must be dedicated to whatever we do. When I saw his writings, his numerous notes, manuscripts, and published works, it was obvious that he was earnest. Looking at his paintings again, they were painted devotedly. Another issue is purity. Whatever we do, do it for its own sake, regardless of what result it will have or what standards it will meet in the future. At least from our perspective, whatever we want to do, do it well and stick to the end. I reckon that dedication and purity are qualities that we should have in anything we do.
Fairway on Lava by the Sea (Mauna Kea Golf Course) 150×80cm Oil on Dew-retting Linen Canvas 2022
Facing the Azure Sea (Pelican Hill Golf Course) 150×80cm Oil on Dew-retting Linen Canvas 2022
(Transcribed from interview recordings)