Yuan Yiping (Advisor of China Photographers Association)

         May 31. 1994


The soul of Eastern Art
-- For the Collection of Photographs of WANG Wusheng

Yuan Yiping

Advisor of China Photographers Association


         I am entrusted by my good friend WANG Wusheng with the job to write something for his collection of photographs of Huangshan Mountain, which will be co-published by the Japan Kodansha and China Youth Publishing House. I am duty-bound to the job. Though I lack deep and systematic study on his artistic style and aesthetic thoughts. 1 love his photographs so much that I can not help taking up my pen in spite of all of this.
Huangshan Mountain. enjoying the reputation as the "Fairy Land on Earth", has been overwhelmed with the admiration of thousands of artists since ancient times. Tens of thousands of photos have been taken of Huangshan Mountain. But as far as Wang Wusheng is concerned. these works can not express the great shock that the Mountain has brought to him. He has made up his mind to show the viewers the Mountain in his mind. thereby realizing his pursuit of aesthetics.

         In corpora ting magnificence. wonder. danger. elegance and vastness in one. Huangshan Mountain can be named the most beautiful natural scenery in the world. Photographers often display its visionary beauty, yet Wang Wusheng emphasizes more of its magnificence in his works. Through his lens, Huangshan Mountain is steep and high while the pine Trees are vigorous and sturdy. The whole scene is vast and boundless and the color is dark and imposing A11 of these compromise the shocking and bewitching Huangshan Mountain in Wang Wusheng's mind.
Writing this. it hit upon my mind that Wang once told me That only the Chinese national artistic works can be easily accepted by the world. Just as he said, His photographs of Huangshan Mountain are permeated with nationalistic feeling.
        
         Instead of recording the actual scenery of Huangshan Mountain. Wang Wusheng has created a special artistic conception for his works. Being different, from the western photographers. who meticulously reproduce the objective scenery. Wang makes full use of the smoky clouds and misty fog to show an imaginary Huangshan Mountain. Apparently. he is expressing his own feelings, relying on the changeable and magic Mountain. As he said, Huangshan Mountain is not so much the mountain of nature as the one in his heart.

         Whether or not a piece of work has an artistic conception is decided on by what degree it leaves the viewer room for imagination. For the conception is realized by both the photographer and the viewer. The photo is the terminal point of the photographer as well as the starting point of the viewer. Weilding the traditional method of artistic expression. Wang Wusheng has created a boundless field for the viewer to imagine. Of course, these scenes based on reality have been changed into The scenes possessing Wang's ideals and feelings. So the viewer feels more intimate with these photographs.

         Wang Wusheng has taken a difficult and tortuous path in the last 20 years. But as a man of strong character, he has made unremitting efforts in his life. Addicted to it, he was determined to present Huangshan Mountain to those who love it as much as he does. H is creative efforts have led to great achievements. His works have left a deep impression on people all over the world. The famous Chinese aesthete and literary critic, Wang Chaowen speaks highly of his works, saying that Wang Wusheng possesses the making of a poet. The well-known Japanese artist Higashiyama Kaii said Wang's works have much in common with the Chinese ink-and-wash paintings. What's more, the 400-year-old Kangyoji temple in Japan unprecedented uses his photo as a mural painting instead of a Japanese painting. Wang Wusheng has held many exhibitions in the art galleries, exhibition halls and museums in Japan and the United States.

         We wish him further success in the future.


                                                                                                                                                   May 31. 1994
                                                                                                                                                   Translated by Jiang Wei