An interview with Chinese Artist Mr. Yuanwei Yang

Mr. Yuanwei Yang was born in 1943 in Jiangsu Province, China. He is an artist at the American Arts Research Institute and a member of the Chinese American Artists Association. He is one of the most successful and noteworthy artists in the field of Chinese landscape art, known for sketching western city scenery with ink and water. He has sketched in Europe, America, Australia, Japan and Southern Asia. His paintings are appreciated by both Chinese and foreign art lovers, entered into both institutional and personal collections, as well as exhibited in various galleries. Exhibitions of Mr. Yang’s artworks are held in China, America, Singapore, and Japan.

We met Mr. Yang in a cloudy and drizzly Saturday afternoon, at a Starbucks in western suburb of Chicago. I had a nice talk with Mr. Yang, the co-founders of Chicago Arts and Cultural Association, and a visiting scholar from an art institute in southern China. Mr. Yang brought two albums of his artwork and showed us some of his recent paintings.

Wenwei: When did you begin your career? Could you share us more about how you fell in love with painting?

Mr. Yuanwei Yang: I believe that early childhood education from parents plays an important role in discovering one’s potential abilities. I must admit that my parents were not planning an art career for me, since they learned the intricacies of the struggle of becoming an artist, and the difficulties that struggle entails. On the other hand, they were very supportive when I was a child. I was interested in Majiang because my aunts and their friends were playing Majiang at home almost everyday in Shanghai after the war. My parents bought me hundreds of coloring books to keep me away from the Majiang table. They hung my work on the walls, encouraged me to explore different colors, and were truly proud of me. Although I didn’t choose a career in art after college, painting will always be something I am deeply passionate about.

Wenwei: Why do you choose ink as your medium?

Mr. Yuanwei Yang: The objects and the techniques in paintings change as society changes. I began with watercolor and oil paintings, and was interested in printmaking. However, I was not able to study that. In my 20s, traditional Chinese painting became popular again. I could not help but to learn more about these unique skills. Personally, I chose to use ink as a medium and have been since. New Jinling Style had its heyday in China. I felt myself becoming extremely devoted with Chinese landscape painting. It has been 30 years since ink became my first choice, and when I want to express myself by painting, it is my go to medium.

Wenwei: Among all of your art works, which one is your favorite? What is your creative process like?

Mr. Yuanwei Yang: Magnificent Buildings in the Moonlight (the painting below), which was painted in 2008, is my favorite work. I think this painting has successfully reflected what I saw and what I wanted to show. Actually, artists can easily become disappointed when they find that the work is not only bad, but far from their expectations. I use sketches and pictures to remind me of my thoughts and to keep me on track. They can bring my memories back to me, especially with regards to the details. There are differences between what I remember and what shows up in the picture. Knowing the differences helps me a lot in creating uniqueness in my paintings.

Wenwei: You have been to many places to capture the wonderful scenery using your Chinese brushes. What is your favorite city and/or country?

Mr. Yuanwei Yang: Italy, definitely. Because in Italy, every place has its own beauty. And every scenery could turn into a fabulous painting. I have been to many European countries, but Italy is the most picturesque country for an artist. The atmosphere that arose from its culture was also quite impressive.

Wenwei: Where would you pick to sketch if you painted with the theme of “Chicago”? What colors would you use in this painting?

Mr. Yuanwei Yang: I would pick Chicago River and the architecture along with it. Chicago is a hard-core city with strength that arose from its architecture. I am “heavily” touched by the city view. Black and gray would be the colors, as they reflect the unique spirit of Chicago.

Wenwei: Have you been painting since you moved to the United States? What kind of paintings are you working on?

Mr. Yuanwei Yang: Yes, definitely. I have been painting at a regular time everyday. Essentially because I often found myself not satisfied with some of my old works. I then decided to give it another try. I am really enjoying painting the same old scenery again, as I am adding new thoughts and new elements to these new works. Besides painting, I also keep posting articles on my Sina Weibo. Through Yang Yuanwei’s world with water and ink (https://weibo.com/u/3833096414), I shared my research and opinion on arts with more than twenty thousand of friends that I might never meet. It is quite an interesting experience.

Wenwei: What might be your expectations of Chinese landscape painting in America?

Mr. Yuanwei Yang: I have been caring about Chinese artists visiting America, for quite sometime. I read an article in 1995, which said that there were 100 thousand Chinese artists that resided in the United States. I am pretty sure there are many more Chinese artists here right now. Mr. Shaoguang Ding and Mr. Yifei Chen are the big names in this field. In Chicagoland, there also are Chinese artists that gained great reputation. However, they are the lucky minority. To be honest, the majority of the Chinese artists are not recognized in America, not only because there is still a long way for them to go in improving their works, but also due to the lack of understanding the local market. In America, people purchase an art piece simply because they like it, or it goes along with the interior of their home. To them, purchasing artworks might not equal to making an investment. I admit that this is quite different, compared to the market in China.

Wenwei: Is there any difference between Chinese and American consumers, in the ability to appreciate artwork?

Mr. Yuanwei Yang: Yes, there are differences. But the differences won’t make any consumers from one country superior than those from the other. As to the ability to appreciate artwork, I believe it depends on the middle-class and more importantly higher social classes families’ knowledge and preference, rather than the tastes of art dealers or curators. Because the formers are the largest group of potential consumers. In the United States, lawyers, engineers, doctors, and scientists have developed their own tastes in artworks. I would say they might speak highly of the impressionists and Gustav Klimt. However, they are not so interested in modern and contemporary artists. I won’t leave any comment on the tastes of middle-class professionals in China, because I don’t want to be offensive.

Wenwei: What do you believe is the key element in creating a good painting? Any advice to young artists?

Mr.Yuanwei Yang: This is a good question. And there is no simple answer for it. There is a principle that I am still working to achieve. “be unique, and then be excellent.” What I mean is not cliche “tradition vs. innovation”. It is about paying attention to your own experience and thoughts, as they are the most valuable things in your own art style. The unique medium you choose is also essential. This has always been the global understanding.