2011 Ink and Colors of the"Sea" Exhibition

Appreciating Yi Jian's Paintings
 By Professor Lin Yipeng
 (Doctoral Supervisor at Nanjing Normal University School of Fine Arts and Renowned Painter)

I believe that the most essential quality of an artist lies in their inner depth as a "person." It is this inner depth that gives value to human actions, with artistic creation being one such action. Consequently, works of art gain their value as well, while painting or calligraphy merely serve as carriers of this value. In this regard, Yijian is a painter who possesses profound inner depth.

I know Yijian very well. Back when he was in university, I can honestly say he was the most “troublesome” student. He often brought batches of his paintings for me to review. Since he stood out among his peers, my expectations for him were particularly high. As a result, I was often dissatisfied with his work. With my bad temper, I would scold him, yet he would often argue back with me endlessly.

I originally thought that after being scolded, he would give up. But to my surprise, a few days later, he would bring me another batch of paintings to review. During his university years, he essentially grew up under constant criticism. To tell the truth, he was my favorite student, not only because he worked hard, but also because he was independent in character. In our society, achieving independence of character is no easy feat!

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Today, I use the term “independent in character” to praise him, and this may be a hundred times more important than praising his paintings. This is because the pursuit of independence and self-improvement in character is a vital essence of culture. As for Yijian's independence of character, there’s no need to delve into details to prove it—I know him too well.

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He frequently seeks me out for discussions about art. Interestingly, we rarely talk about painting itself; instead, we focus more on culture, society, and life. We believe that art derives its essence from these elements. Without such substance, art becomes nothing more than an empty shell of appearance.

Moreover, I find Yijian’s intellectual depth to be quite remarkable. Although his current works are primarily rooted in traditional styles, his knowledge structure is distinctly modern. He has conducted systematic and in-depth studies of Western culture and art, with a profound understanding and a sophisticated level of insight.

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Thanks to his broad perspective, his approach to painting feels effortless, free from any sense of strain. He can express his ideas and emotions with ease and spontaneity. The artistic heights he has reached are shaped by his intrinsic character and his modern knowledge framework—achievements that are difficult for most painters to attain.

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In his works, Yijian excels in two areas that set him apart from most painters:

First, he demonstrates masterful control over the lines in Chinese painting, achieving a seamless connection between his mind and hand. His compositions are almost entirely built from rhythmic lines, but this proficiency is not a superficial display of skill; rather, it reflects a natural flow guided by his state of mind—purposeful yet not chaotic.

While Western painting relies on form and space to convey meaning, Chinese painting uses lines to construct imagery. Yijian’s lines capture the essence of traditional Chinese painting’s language with remarkable precision. In this regard, it is rare to find another painter in today’s world who can achieve what he has with such finesse.

Second, within the realm of traditional Chinese painting, Yijian boldly incorporates vibrant colors without compromising elegance—a feat of considerable difficulty. Anyone familiar with this field understands the challenges involved, yet he manages to use bright and vivid colors with great skill.

This is particularly evident in his bird-and-flower paintings, where he achieves a harmonious balance, blending ink and color seamlessly into a unified whole while avoiding any sense of vulgarity. Sometimes, I jokingly ask him if his time in Changzhou influenced him—perhaps inheriting some of Yun Nantian's techniques!

In my view, these two aspects are areas where he truly excels.

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As for Duan Yijian, given his abilities, his potential and creativity are far from being fully realized. His artistic talent is by no means limited to what he has achieved so far—what we see now is merely the tip of the iceberg.

Looking ahead, I hold even greater expectations for his future. He has already laid the foundation for becoming a great artist, possessing the essential qualities: a lofty character, exceptional artistic talent, a well-rounded knowledge structure, and masterful painting techniques. What he needs now is to continue loving art as passionately as he loves life itself.

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