Ancestral inspiration for Chinese art professor
By Shelly Simonds A descendent of Confucius, Professor Kong Zhong Qi, last month visited the Canberra School of Art (CSA) to demonstrate an ancient watercolour painting technique. Known as the "King of Waterfalls", he is Professor of Chinese Painting at the China Institute of Fine Arts in Hangzhou. Prof Kong is also an executive member of UNESCO's International Art Education Academy and the author of numerous books on scenery painting techniques. Demonstrating his technique before students in Noel Ford's watercolour class, Prof Kong used a translator to say he was delighted to participate in an artistic exchange between East and West. He apologised for not speaking English and said he and the students would have to communicate through art.
Prof Kong is a 73rd-generation descendent of Kong Zi (Confucius) and, like his ancestor, derives inspiration from nature. He has travelled widely in China, memorising the scenery for paintings and using the country's mountains and gorges as his teachers. "Painting is very much associated with a person's character. Artists need to have a generous disposition, an open mind, an optimistic outlook, a far-reaching search for ideals, and a simplicity of mind," Prof Kong said. "Some young people think this form of art is too ancient. But there is much discipline to be learned by an artist who only uses one brush, one colour and one water." Robert Shoobert, one of Prof Kong's former students, noted that Prof Kong's brush strokes are done without hesitation. "They are like the advent of wind and rain and are completed with great force," he said. Chinese watercolour painting looks simple to the Western eye - however the way the ink absorbs into the blotting paper adds a challenging dimension, Mr Shoobert said. Different shades of grey can be produced depending on the amount of pressure applied to the brush. "The watercolour brush is like a woman," Prof Kong explained to students during his demonstration. "The brush has a head, a tummy and a bottom." During his visit, Prof Kong also met with Professor David Williams, Director of the Canberra School of Art, and received a tour of the CSA from executive officerMarilyn Gray. Prof Kong also visited the Drill Hall Gallery to view the Lukas Kandl exhibition. His visit to Australia was sponsored by the People's Republic of China. Three Generations, an exhibition of his work, was held in Chatswood last month at the Citadel Towers.