Introduction
Historically, the life history and work of Wu Chang Shuo has always been acknowledged to be prominent among the most compelling experts of Shanghai School in the Qing Dynasty. Chang Shuo was a prominent and competent artist especially in calligraphy and painting in the course of Qing Dynasty transition . Wu Chang Shuo was Yu Yue’s student. His works and achievements have significantly been reviewed in many books since he is a reliable and influential artist. Every book exploring his work portrays him as a heretical painter centered on self-expression and towered above other aesthetical concerns. He held onto literati deals and specialized in the traditional dynasties . This paper discusses both the meaning of “four perfection” while referencing to Wu Chang Shuo’s art and life achievements and how he ended up being a role model in the combination of the four perfections into practice. Moreover, based on my research, I will give my personal opinion on whether we ought to still follow such traditions or do we have to substitute them with other necessities.
Art and life achievements
Wu Chang Shuo began to learn calligraphy and painting of Suzhou, his precursor. He trained and emerged to be an expert in artistry. Sometime later after the Taiping uprising conquest undertaken through the Chinese administration, he and his family retreated back to Anchengzhen . Wu met with prominent artists as well as art collectors including Yu Yue, GAO Yong. Yong assisted him to have a look at Zhu Da and Shitao’s work. He also came across Ren Yi who encouraged him for focus on painting like art and emphasized Wu could be popular in years to come through painting. Wu began to create a unique seal carving called Shigu . He made ghost carvings which turned out to be the most incredible work. He devoted much of his time to explore seal designs and picked some resourceful manuals about the matter. Wu obtained curving skills from Zhe and Anhui schools and was so motivated. He often furnished his work with poetic themes.
Despite his reputable artistic career, he faced a number of challenges in his life. Although he was not impacted in a direct way by the increasing savagery like it was in during 1860’s, he came from a humble background and he could he faced a big challenge surviving through his seal calligraphy and his seal cutting . He had to seek for more income to sustain his family. Therefore, he left his home for Shanghai in 1880’s during the era when the craft of Shanghai were made by the prominent artists such as Ren Yi and Zhang Xiong . Eventually, Wu made his career of painting to come into a reality by setting up his painting in Shanghai then referred to it as “QuzhunSuiyuan” which means “leave behind your stay and go for your destiny.”
At the age of 60, Wu met Wang a prominent leader in artistic groups, the governmental initiatives and altruistic of Shanghai . The joint forces together and formed an artistry association. Wang reinforced him financially to live in Shanghai and he took an active participation in various craftsmanship associations.
Wu Changshuo as role model in 4 perfections
Wu Chang Shuo emerged to be a role model who would combine four different perfections to the majority of dynasties of Chinese literati art which include; painting, poetry, seal carving and calligraphy . Wu was the main person who accomplished the efficient growth of Chinese calligraphy and art painting all the way from the customary era to the modern days. Wu is considered as a champ in seal carving, poetry, painting and calligraphy. The most incredible actions that made Wu a role model is his association with Zhe and Hai schools in the seal workmanship that advanced to perhaps the most appreciated art schools. Wu was among the Xiling Seal Society founders then later emerged to be a leader . Additionally he made up numerous sorts of seal craftsmanship therefore enabling him to outshine among other prominent artistes during his time.
Wu accomplished the most prominent customary in Xie Yi bloom painting, suing substantially impacted by Ba Da and Xu Wei. Due to his robust establishment in seal cutting, his craft portrayed an impressive experience of brush and ink . Wu was incredible in free style boom painting and purposely placed calligraphy style in representation. He restored the class of Flower by presenting a communicative, traits in relation to the Literati art school. His specialization enhanced and inspired other painters. He made an explicit and straight sort of articulation influencing customary literati in their styling in their works which remained fresh through the 20th century.
Wu influenced design in the field of painting which was based on Chinese art movement like Hai Pai School. It centered on the people’s lifestyle and expressed the reality they were typically going through . Wu communicate via his paintings in varied capacity and capability in the designs showing his talent and skills. His robust and outstanding brush work never extended to being twisted. Wu used red shadings for the blossoms paintings whereby he is specialized in. Wu also incorporated calligraphy into his painting for making something which was new full of imperative. The paintings for Wu were attributed to literati painting . In essence, blossoms paintings depicted a personal elegance which was later copied by other artists of other generations. He had unique and outstanding work that was appealing to Chinese well conversant with plum bloom painting.
Wu successfully made to transition calligraphy from conventional age up to now. He portrayed the technique using calligraphy and burin into his sketches and makes an inimitable design . Wu painted an extra ordinary plum bloom together with orchid which corresponded with seal letterings as well as tinted grapes such as cursive handwriting . This way, Wu was viewed as a role model. He was later rewarded for his unique ability in art and due to the endorsement by Wang.
Conclusion
Based from my research, I believe it is important to still follow traditions no matter how we may perceive them to be old and outdated. This is because traditions are pillars and foundation of the skills and abilities of the tasks or careers that we are engaged in now. Just like Wu’s art style is still followed up to date, we should also follow traditions.