Irene Chou 周绿云
(1936 – 1990)
Reminiscent of Wassily Kandinsky’s paintings during De Blaue Reiterperiod, Irene Chou’s contemporary paintings were vibrantly filled with an array of fascinating reds, greens and yellows that contrast brilliantly against her powerful brushstrokes in black ink. These entrancing ink works are the artistic expressions of Chou’s inner mental landscape, tantamount to the portrayal of the artist's creative “rebirth” following an incapacitating stroke in 1991. With more determination than ever, she continued to paint. If she was unable to move herself, she would move the large sheets of paper and her painting instruments. Irene continues to draw inspiration from the inner workings of the mind through meditation. Chou’s new ink works reflect her tenacious fight towards recovery and beautifully showcase her spirit and growth as an artist and individual.
周绿云的当代绘画充满了一系列迷人的红色、绿色和黄色，与她有力的黑色墨水笔触形成鲜明对比，这让人想起瓦西里·康定斯基 (Wassily Kandinsky) 在 De Blaue Reiter 时期的绘画。这些引人入胜的水墨作品是周绿云内心精神世界的艺术表现，无异于描绘了艺术家在1991年中风后的创作“重生”。她比以往任何时候都更加坚定地继续作画。如果她自己不能动，她就会动那张大张纸和她的绘画工具。绿云继续通过冥想从心灵的内部运作中汲取灵感。她的新水墨作品反映了她为康复而进行的顽强斗争，并精美地展示了她作为艺术家和个人的精神和成长。
“The Universe is my mind; my mind is the Universe”, drawn from the writings of eminent Neo-Confucian philosopher Lu Jiuyuan (1139-1192) of the Southern Song dynasty, are words often quoted by Irene Chou since the eighties. They have provided the impetus and inspiration for her artistic evolution.
These paintings also signify a change in her personal style. The compositions have become very dense and complex, conveying richness in artistic expression. There is a new emphasis on linear rhythm that celebrates the triumph of life. The sweep of broad brushstrokes charges her paintings with an explosive energy. She became keenly aware of the inexhaustible changes of brush and ink, at the same time discovering “a subtle aura of serenity in the brush and ink and perceived a mood not easily attainable in the contemporary world, a mood characterized by tranquility and elegance.” She said that she was able to renew her understanding about life and pursued an interest in philosophy and religion.
A key figure in the New Ink Painting Movement, Chou represents the latest artistic trend to integrate the art of China and the West, and that of the past and the present, in order to forge the spirit of self-realization.
“宇宙是我的思想；我心是宇宙”，出自南宋著名理学家陆九渊（1139-1192）的著作，是八十年代以来周绿云经常引用的话。它们为她的艺术发展提供了动力和灵感。多年来不断演变的标志和符号，以及创新的技术，雄辩地说明了这位非凡女性与艺术和生活的密切关系。
这些画作也标志着她个人风格的转变。构图变得非常密集和复杂，传达出丰富的艺术表现力。庆祝生命胜利的线性节奏有了新的强调。广泛的笔触为她的画作注入了爆炸性的能量。她敏锐地感知到笔墨的无穷变化，同时发现“笔墨中隐隐约约的静谧之气，感知到了一种当代世界不易达到的意境，一种宁静而优雅的意境。”她说她能够更新她对生活的理解，并追求对哲学和宗教的兴趣。
作为新水墨运动的关键人物，周绿云代表了最新的艺术潮流，将中西艺术、古今艺术融为一体，以铸就自我实现的精神。
“One can’t avoid to experience the feelings of happiness, sadness, agony and ecstasy – after all, the only thing that touched me deeply, is my painting… I am most sincere towards my work – searching for my concept and my utopia and perfection.“
”一个人无法避免去体验快乐、悲伤、痛苦和狂喜的感觉——毕竟，唯一深深打动我的就是我的画……我对我的工作最真诚——寻找我的理念、我的乌托邦和完美。”
Click to keep reading for the rest of 'Life is a many Splendoured thing'. 点击以继续阅读“生活是多姿多彩的事物”的其余部分。
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Click to keep reading for the rest of 'Life is a many Splendoured thing'. 点击以继续阅读“生活是多姿多彩的事物”的其余部分。 〰️
Boccaccio's decameron 薄伽丘的十日谈
Click to view the whole article. 点击查看全文。
Further reading, Click to read. 延伸阅读，点击阅读。
Artist and her painting 艺术家和她的画
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Artist and her painting 艺术家和她的画 〰️
"I am My Art; My Paintings are Me;: An Exploration of the Relationship Between the Art and Life of Irene Chou《我是我的艺术，我的画是我——周绿云的艺术与生活关系探析》
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"I am My Art; My Paintings are Me;: An Exploration of the Relationship Between the Art and Life of Irene Chou《我是我的艺术，我的画是我——周绿云的艺术与生活关系探析》 〰️
The art of Irene Chou (Zhou Luyun, 1924-2011) : a case study of ink painting 周绿云的艺术（周绿云，1924-2011）：以水墨画为例
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The art of Irene Chou (Zhou Luyun, 1924-2011) : a case study of ink painting 周绿云的艺术（周绿云，1924-2011）：以水墨画为例 〰️
Hong Kong ink painting: its role in the development of Chinese painting in the second half of the twentieth century and beyond 香港水墨画：对二十世纪下半叶及以后中国画发展的作用
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Hong Kong ink painting: its role in the development of Chinese painting in the second half of the twentieth century and beyond 香港水墨画：对二十世纪下半叶及以后中国画发展的作用 〰️
Further reading. 延展阅读
Artist and her painting
艺术家和她的画
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/s0p5mvujs46m27n/AAAFg7gtPpSNZlcNAg4uS4mxa?dl=0
"I am My Art; My Paintings are Me;: An Exploration of the Relationship Between the Art and Life of Irene Chou
《我是我的艺术，我的画是我——周绿云的艺术与生活关系探析》
https://research-repository.griffith.edu.au/handle/10072/367682
The art of Irene Chou (Zhou Luyun, 1924-2011) : a case study of ink painting
周绿云的艺术（周绿云，1924-2011）：以水墨画为例
https://commons.ln.edu.hk/vs_etd/4/
Hong Kong ink painting: its role in the development of Chinese painting in the second half of the twentieth century and beyond
香港水墨画：对二十世纪下半叶及以后中国画发展的作用
https://commons.ln.edu.hk/vs_etd/11/
