「Look at the Picture and Talk about the Painting」The “Black” Language of Visual Art

In the “Colors” exhibition, black is a versatile language that transcends sculpture and painting. It embodies the lightness of lines, the heaviness of volume, and also the underlying logic of identity and natural art.

Alexander Calder used single-line drawn black iron wires to eliminate the heaviness of matter, making black a dynamic visual symbol that relies on the void. Henri Matisse, in his “The Back” series, utilized the volume of black bronze, stripping away the narrative of concrete objects. In the vertical and simplified structure, he returned to the exploration of the essence of the body. In the field of painting, black demonstrates more powerful spiritual expression. Jackson Pollock made the black primer and white paint layer against layer, emitting a magnetic void charm. Jean-Michel Basquiat wrapped the picture with black borders, making black not only the background color of slavery but also a critical weapon against oppression and the expression of African identity. Liu Dan’s “Sunflower” pushed the ink color to the extreme of microscopic textures. Through the dry and wet evolution of ink on paper, it constructed the internal order of contemporary spirit within the traditional breathing sense.

These black expressions that transcend sculpture and painting have jointly created a visual feast about emptiness, struggle and life. Through the duality of affirmation and negation, “black” has reached the purest artistic expression of color.

The tea for today is all gone. Next time, I’ll brew a fresh pot and enjoy art with you again.