Irene Chou 周綠雲
(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.
週綠雲的當代繪畫充滿了一系列迷人的紅色、綠色和黃色，與她有力的黑色墨水筆觸形成鮮明對比，這讓人想起瓦西里·康定斯基 (Wassily Kandinsky) 在 De Blaue Reiter 時期的繪畫。這些引人入勝的水墨作品是周綠雲內心精神世界的藝術表現，無異於描繪了藝術家在1991年中風後的創作“重生”。她比以往任何時候都更加堅定地繼續作畫。如果她自己不能動，她就會動那張大張紙和她的繪畫工具。綠雲繼續通過冥想從心靈的內部運作中汲取靈感。她的新水墨作品反映了她為康復而進行的頑強鬥爭，並精美地展示了她作為藝術家和個人的精神和成長。
“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.
“宇宙便是吾心，吾心更是宇宙”，出自南宋著名理學家陸九淵（1139-1192）的著作，是八十年代以來周綠雲經常引用的話。它們為她的藝術發展提供了動力和靈感。
這些畫作也標誌著她個人風格的轉變。構圖變得非常密集和復雜，傳達出豐富的藝術表現力。慶祝生命勝利的線性節奏有了新的強調。廣泛的筆觸為她的畫作注入了爆炸性的能量。她敏銳地感知到筆墨的無窮變化，同時發現“筆墨中隱隱約約的靜謐之氣，感知到了一種當代世界不易達到的意境，一種寧靜而優雅的意境。”她說她能夠更新她對生活的理解，並追求對哲學和宗教的興趣。
作為新水墨運動的關鍵人物，週綠雲代表了最新的藝術潮流，將中西藝術、古今藝術融為一體，以鑄就自我實現的精神。
“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.“
”一個人無法避免去體驗快樂、悲傷、痛苦和狂喜的感覺——畢竟，唯一深深打動我的就是我的畫……我對我的工作最真誠——尋找我的理念、我的烏托邦和完美。”
Click to keep reading for the rest of 'Life is a many Splendoured thing'. 點擊以繼續閱讀“生活是多姿多彩的事物”的其餘部分。
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Click to keep reading for the rest of 'Life is a many Splendoured thing'. 點擊以繼續閱讀“生活是多姿多彩的事物”的其餘部分。 〰️
Boccaccio's decameron 薄伽丘的十日談
Click to view the whole article. 點擊查看全文。
Further reading, Click to read. 延伸閱讀，點擊閱讀。
Artist and her painting 藝術家和她的畫
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Artist and her painting 藝術家和她的畫 〰️
"I am My Art; My Paintings are Me;: An Exploration of the Relationship Between the Art and Life of Irene Chou《我是我的藝術，我的畫是我——週綠雲的藝術與生活關係探析》
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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《我是我的藝術，我的畫是我——週綠雲的藝術與生活關係探析》 〰️
The art of Irene Chou (Zhou Luyun, 1924-2011) : a case study of ink painting 週綠雲的藝術（週綠雲，1924-2011）：以水墨畫為例
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The art of Irene Chou (Zhou Luyun, 1924-2011) : a case study of ink painting 週綠雲的藝術（週綠雲，1924-2011）：以水墨畫為例 〰️
Hong Kong ink painting: its role in the development of Chinese painting in the second half of the twentieth century and beyond 香港水墨畫：對二十世紀下半葉及以後中國畫發展的作用
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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 香港水墨畫：對二十世紀下半葉及以後中國畫發展的作用 〰️
Further reading. 延伸閱讀。
Artist and her painting
藝術家和她的畫
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
《我是我的藝術，我的畫是我——週綠雲的藝術與生活關係探析》
https://research-repository.griffith.edu.au/handle/10072/367682
The art of Irene Chou (Zhou Luyun, 1924-2011) : a case study of ink painting
週綠雲的藝術（週綠雲，1924-2011）：以水墨畫為例
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
香港水墨畫：對二十世紀下半葉及以後中國畫發展的作用
https://commons.ln.edu.hk/vs_etd/11/
