EduArt – think Science and Arts Together

Though the State Council and Foreign Ministry invited me on some Human Rights Issues, the visit provided the opportunity to meet 马海方 (Ma Haifang), a Beijing born artist, who developed a unique style, presenting the life of ordinary people, catching up with them in the huitongs (quarters, alleys, Kiez, quartier …), and also sketching the people, the old buildings, arches and the small details that make up life and living.

While the majority of his works is made with reference to his hometown Beijing, where he also studied, he travelled quite a lot: he showed me around in his artist’s studio, giving me insight in his technique which, though characterising nearly all of his works, ha very different results, reflecting specific local features. Not only by way of explanation, but also by producing a little portrait, he showed his special approach: waiting first the area — the brushstrokes in ink are applied vertically (rather than horizontally, as is typical of European painting), and the outlines are only added afterwards (which is also atypical of European painting).

He said that he was passionate about rich hues, blending bright mineral pigments with ink perfectly. His works integrate rich colours with freehand ink techniques, achieving a gorgeous yet elegant, dense yet balanced visual effect.“Colour and beauty” — this is what he mentioned as essential, guiding his life and artwork.

There is hope now that we can, at some stage, share colour and beauty here in Møgeltønder. Part of our conversation had been about organising a special exhibition or some exchange locally, crossing borders; it would serve as a wonderful platform for cultural exchange, allowing people from both countries to gain better mutual understanding.