Fresh wind 2020

Curator: Here we have "Fresh Wind" by Dayou Lu, painted in 2020. It's currently held here at the Shanghai Museum. We see ink on, what looks like, a prepared surface. Editor: My immediate thought is…it’s breathlessly alive. The bird caught mid-flight amongst this calligraphy of bamboo. It's more than just seeing; it’s almost hearing the rustle and the quick beat of wings. Curator: Yes, the dynamic energy is key. Lu’s piece joins a long tradition of ink painting focusing on flora and fauna, especially in East Asian art history. This piece sits comfortably in the Orientalist style. But Lu also brings something very contemporary, doesn’t he? A real freshness, dare I say. Editor: I'd have to agree about that "freshness". Look at how Lu handles the space. The background is left bare, emphasizing the crispness of each brushstroke. The contrast between the bird's intricate detail and the almost abstract bamboo...it keeps the eye dancing. To me, it's a poem. What would this represent socially? Curator: Good question. Consider that this painting emerges from a society undergoing immense change and unprecedented urbanization. Depictions of nature, particularly those highlighting vitality and freedom like this bird, become incredibly poignant. It represents an idealized escape and also an invocation of traditional values amid modernity. Editor: So, it’s a cultural anchor, really. That bird – that 'fresh wind' - acts as both memory and aspiration, fluttering in the collective consciousness. But in an exhibition context, wouldn’t some viewers critique the Orientalist framework as limiting or appropriative? Curator: Certainly, and those critiques are vital. It is important to be aware of this framework as both a method of cultural study and also its possible problematic application. Editor: I suppose a modern observer could still say, I simply like the texture or the expression! But that's the magic of art, isn’t it? Curator: Absolutely. The ability to engage with different perspectives while still appreciating the intrinsic qualities of a piece like this is, perhaps, why these things are still being made today. Editor: Ultimately, Dayou Lu gifts us not just an image, but an invitation to listen to the wind. To listen to the history, and finally listen to yourself!