Beautiful Summer 2002

Huang Yongyu made this painting using ink and colour on paper. You can see the push and pull of dark ink against the juicy reds and blues. I imagine Huang Yongyu building up the image in layers, almost like a dance. The lotus leaves are full of dynamism. Thick, inky blacks contrast with the delicate brushstrokes of the red flowers. Notice how the crane’s bodies are built up with soft, watery hues, balanced by decisive, calligraphic lines that delineate their forms. Looking at the painting, I imagine the artist's hand moving swiftly across the paper, capturing the fleeting beauty of a summer day. The empty space is as important as what's painted. Huang Yongyu trusts that a few well-placed marks can evoke a whole world. And it does, doesn't it? It opens up a space of imagination that is free and full of promise.