Bulletin Number One 1985

Plate 2 Li Fangying; Bamboo and Rock, (dated 1753); Hanging scroll, ink on paper, 139.5 x 54.5 cm the artist has succeeded in conveying an impression of luxuriant growth in nature, achieved through the density of the orchid plants sprouting forth from the rock and the intermingling of young branches of bamboo. The rich gradation of ink tones and the elegant calligraphic brushwork further enhance the aesthetic expressiveness in thi s painting. A long inscription adorns the painting at the left ， its lines of varying lengths echo the shape of the rock. Zheng was also known for his calligraphy which combines the characteristics of different calligraphic scripts like 'clerical' (li), 'standard' (kai), 'running' (xing) and ‘cursive’ (cao), in addition to brush techniques of orchids and bamboo. Zheng called this distinct style of calligraphy 'six-and-one-half tenths' (liufenban shu 六分半書), yet some compared it to ‘irregular stones covering the street', perhaps referring not only to the intermingling of different script types, but also to the variations in size, shape, speed and movement. In this way, Zheng explored the abstract pictorial potential of calligraphy on one hand, and the calligraphic expressivenes of the pictorial elements on the other. For Zheng, painting and calligraphy fuse to become one as a vehicle of his individuality and originality. Li Fangying (1695-1755) was another of the 'Eight Eccentric Masters' to excel in painting pines, bamboo, prunus and orchids. Li, a native of Nantong of the Jiangsu province, also led a long yet unsuccessful official career in the Shan- tong and Anhui provinces. He retired to Nanjing and Yangzhou, where he earned a meagre living from selling his paintings. Bamboo and Rock (Plate 2) is a work from his late years while living in Nanjing. It shows a powerful personal style quite distinct from RECENT DEVELOPMENTS 13