Interview by William Chan
Local artist Tsang Tseng Tseng (曾貞貞) talked to The Macau Post Daily about her exhibition “San-pa chi” (三巴集) at 10 Fantasia gallery. The exhibition showcases a total of 11 small-sized paintings by Tsang.
The interview was held at the exhibition.
Tsang, also known by her pseudonym Three Zan (三真), is currently pursuing her doctoral studies at the China Academy of Art, focusing on the renowned Qing Dynasty painter Wu Li (吳歷). Inspired by Wu’s Collection of Poems, Tsang’s exhibition shares the same name, “San-pa chi”. Wu, who was one of the very few prominent Chinese painters from the past to visit Macau, studied Latin here and converted to Catholicism.
One notable feature of the exhibition is a painting depicting the Ruins of St. Paul’s. Tsang, primarily a landscape painter, decided to explore this subject and used similar techniques to highlight the structure’s outer shape, employing plain line drawing and subtle shading. She noted that her intention was to convey an exquisite and ancient feeling, drawing from traditional literati painting techniques.
Describing Wu’s style, Tsang noted its strict and concrete manner, characterised by meticulous planning. His religious background also influenced his artistic intent, where many of his late paintings were created for personal enjoyment or as gifts, rather than for commercial purposes. Tsang also emphasised Wu’s strong Confucian background and how it shaped his approach to art. “Despite Wu’s conversion to Catholicism, his painting style remained steadfastly loyal to the aesthetics of traditional Chinese literati painting. While Wu acknowledged and understood some Western styles within his poems, he chose to stay true to his own artistic tradition,” she said.
Tsang sees a similarity between Wu and herself. Growing up in a culturally diverse city and exposed to various cultures, Tsang still finds herself inclined towards Chinese literati aesthetics. She believes that the essence of art lies not only in innovation and creativity but also in the preservation of artistic traditions.
For Tsang, extending tradition goes beyond merely emulating the style of paintings: it involves recreating the meaning and interpretation of the artwork. Chinese landscapes, in her view, are never plain or static. Through techniques like atmospheric perspective, the placement of objects, and the use of empty space, artists create a sense of distance and depth, conveying the vastness and serenity of the landscape, according to Tsang.
In the interview, Tsang characterised traditional Chinese painting as dynamically expressive, achieved through meticulous planning and execution. “In each brushstroke, the carefully shaped mountains, and even deliberately omitted spaces, profound significance resided within Wu’s Chinese paintings,” she said. For instance, a small house depicted in the artwork could convey the magnificence of the mountain behind it through contrast. Similarly, the vast empty spaces, often representing a sea or lake, created a sense of distance between the neighbouring mountains.
According to Tsang, these dynamic elements in Wu’s paintings reflect the essence of Chinese culture – an intangible realm that can be perceived and experienced but not easily described or defined. She emphasised that in order to truly appreciate any artist’s greatness, one must delve into the understanding of his or her prose and the conveyed meaning of his or her style and artistic tradition, and it is akin to grasping the enigmatic nature of culture itself, where deeper layers of meaning and significance are revealed through exploration and comprehension.
The exhibition will continue until the end of the year and admission is free. Tsang said that following this exhibition, she plans to hold another one with a completely different subject, centred around the theme of the New Year.
This photo shows Tsang working on her painting “Pine and Stone” (松石圖) on a two-fold gold-leafed screen during the exhibition’s opening ceremony on November 5 at 10 Fantasia gallery.
Local artists Carlos Marreiros (from left to right), Tsang Tseng Tseng and Lai Sio Kit pose during the opening ceremony on November 5.
The album of paintings “San-pa chi” (三巴集冊頁四開), which consists of four paintings ranging in size from 10.5x17.5 cm to 18x20 cm
Tsang’s artwork is displayed in the stairwells of the 10 Fantasia gallery. – All photos provided by Tsang
