Over the long history of Chinese painting, bird-and-flower painting has always been one of three main subjects along with landscapes and figures.

Guo Shifu, with his great freehand, naturalistic style, has well inherited the art, yet given it his own understanding.

Mostly grand and magnificent, Guo's paintings are free and boundless. He believes in the importance of expressing the spirit of Chinese culture and philosophy in paintings.

Often about birds, flowers, insects, fishes, bamboo, orchids and other natural subjects, his paintings are grand and majestic - not only in size, but also in artistic conception.

It's not difficult to discover that most of Guo's works are in ink, rarely with excessive color, then solemn and awe-inspiring.

Guo said the pursuit of beauty is endless and the highest state of aesthetic appreciation of Chinese painting lies in the beauty of its natural origin rather than an excessively adorned style.

In many of Guo's works, it's easy to feel vigor, vitality and youthful passion blended in the painting. Imprints of the times and spirit of personality are also well expressed through most of his pieces.

Instead of elaborate consideration and refinement of every detail, Guo prefers focusing on the general construction of a painting. The hefty lines endow the works with the spirit of calligraphy, vigorous and forceful.

zhengxin@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 09/22/2013 page5)