青绿绿水的见证 2015

王新福 made this painting called 青绿绿水的见证 with, what looks like, thick oil paint applied with a palette knife to create a very textured surface. The process seems to be about building up layers, almost like frosting a cake, to create a landscape that is both real and dreamlike. Look closely at the way the colors mix and blend, especially in the reflection on the water, where greens, yellows, and blues swirl together. Notice how the individual strokes are visible, giving the painting a sense of movement and energy. The paint is so thick in places that it almost becomes sculptural. This reminds me of the later work of Monet, when he was painting his water lilies in his garden at Giverny. It's as though 王新福 is inviting us to get lost in the materiality of the paint itself, to experience the landscape through touch and texture as well as sight.