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The development of art and the development of a society are always mutually dependent.

During the mid-18th century, Yangzhou, a city in the Jiangsu province, China, prospered as the salt industry boomed in the surrounding provinces. The painting market at that time followed the property of the merchants in Yangzhou to grow. Such environment became a cradle for the development of "Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou", a group of prodigies with unique style in Chinese painting.

Now at the Hong Kong Museum of Art (Museum of Art), a current exhibition entitled "The Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou: Eighteenth-Century Paintings of Yangzhou" features a fine selection of 42 masterpieces by this group of artists, offering visitors a not-the-same experience on Chinese paintings.

Instead of eight particular artists referred, the "Eight Eccentrics" should actually be considered as a group of artists who share certain common characteristics in their life and art. In total, there are altogether 15 artists involved in the list, including Hua Yan, Gao Fenghan, Li Shan, Wang Shishen, Jin Nong, Huang Shen, Gao Xiang, Zheng Xie, Li Fangying, Bian Shoumin, Luo Pin, Chan Zhuan, Min Zhen, Li Mian and Yang Fa.

Many of these artists were initially scholar-painters who followed the literati tradition in their artistic pursuit and later on turned to be professional painters. As they had to sell their paintings and calligraphy to earn a living, they were attracted to Yangzhou, a large commercial city of their time.

The liberal atmosphere, freedom of expression and prosperous economy in Yangzhou allowed them to focus on the expression of their own feelings and temperament and thus their paintings were different from those of the Orthodox School. Their art was considered "eccentric" since they did not adhere to the conventionally accepted manners and habits.

Their most outstanding achievement was found in the painting of flowers and birds and the so-called "Four Gentlemen" painting of plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo and chrysanthemums. Since they lived close to the lower class people, they were familiar with the decadence and corruption of the society and the suffering of the people. This perception of the society was reflected in their paintings, giving their works a new dimension of meaning. These artists also catered for the art market of Yangzhou by switching their art to suit the taste of the patrons in terms of subject and technique. This is the reason why they were so popular among the patrons.

However, after flourishing for less than a hundred years, the salt industry finally declined in the 19th century. The painting centre was then switched from Yangzhou to the new commercial city Shanghai. The innovative spirit and the mutual relationship between artists and merchants that had been developed in Yangzhou were continued in Shanghai. Nevertheless, Eight Eccentrics' creativity and individuality have greatly enriched the tradition of Chinese painting.

The current exhibition at the Museum of Art not only features its collection on the Eight Eccentrics' works, but also the precious collections on loan from the Bei Shan Tang Collection of the Art Museum of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Chongyizhai, Xin An Ju, Yu Mo Zhai and other private collectors, giving the viewers a more comprehensive picture of the creativity of these great masters. Besides, a series of fully coloured Xubaizhai Collection catalogues has also been published for further study and appreciation.

The Museum of Art is located at 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. It opens from 10 am to 6 pm daily and closes on every Thursday (except public holidays). Admission fee is $ 10 with half-price concession applicable to full-time students, people with disabilities and senior citizens aged 60 or above. Admission is free on Wednesdays. For enquiries, please call 2721 0116 or visit the Museum of Art's website at http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/hkma/.

End/Friday, July 5, 2002

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