Lookout In Landscape Realm –Impression on YanChao’s Landscape Painting by Zhang Rongdong?

Reading Yan Chao’s works, I can always feel a strong natural flavor of mountains and rivers. There is no doubt that his brush-ink techniques are from the tradition. However the flavor transmitted from his works is completely contemporary. Yan Chao prefers refreshing and profound artistic conception of landscape painting.  He is indulgent yet restrained in operation of brush and ink. He depicts the deep natural and peaceful conditions of mountains and rivers very well. Under his brush, there is no sweet pastoral flavor but solemnity and profoundness. He presents the essential world of mountains and rivers. His feeling of mountain and rivers is not a skimming experience but an observation of life which melts into his blood.  His presentation of mountains and rivers is almost purely out of nature. The most ordinary mountains and rivers are endowed with new spirits by him.   

Yan Chao’s depiction of mountains and rivers is full of his thinking. He wants to depict his love for the land and the life in his heart. Attributed to such love, he found his lifetime art source. Actually, it’s his depiction of mountains and rivers that arouse his most beautiful memories in the life.