洱海夏荷 2019

Curator: This is Wang Xinfu’s "Sea of Summer Lotus," painted in 2019 using acrylic on canvas with what’s termed “matter-painting” techniques. Editor: My immediate feeling is one of immersion, of almost being enveloped by the lush vegetation. It’s quite tactile; the impasto is really working to create texture. Curator: It’s fascinating how Wang combines the traditions of landscape painting with abstract expressionism. There is an undeniable engagement with "nature," yet the technique subverts any literal interpretation. I'm interested in what this signifies when framed within current ecological discourses. Editor: The image reads as familiar. It brings forth a range of references: Water Lilies at Giverny to the lotus as an enduring symbol across multiple cultures. Curator: The lotus, particularly, functions as a signifier of purity, rebirth, spiritual awakening. And it has a resonance within feminist circles too—associated with the divine feminine. Wang is clearly layering complex narratives. Editor: I can see that; there’s definitely a feeling of symbolic density that the painting exudes beyond the immediate surface appeal. What do you think he wants to communicate? Curator: It might be productive to consider the intersection between these different iconographic registers. Perhaps the artist invites a contemporary understanding of spirituality in relation to nature and its historical connections. The materiality of the acrylic seems particularly relevant in thinking through contemporary ecological concerns. Editor: The layering and the almost suffocating density can perhaps be an intentional strategy to create an awareness of being overwhelmed, either by environmental awareness, the complexity of it or by cultural saturation. It’s a fascinating piece to consider. Curator: Absolutely, a dense tapestry woven from nature, history, culture, and, perhaps, ecological urgency. Editor: It offers so much to think about! A compelling dive into symbolic density.