内向·超越 | “知白守黑：刘知白的水墨艺术”特展

想到刘知白先生在20世纪中国画史上的贡献，就总有两位大师的身影出现，一位是中国的黄宾虹，一位是19世纪法国的大雕塑家罗丹。

刘知白 20世纪30年代作品

知白先生与黄宾虹先生的共同之处是研习传统而不泥古，面向生活而非写实，精研古法而孜孜创新，最终达于内心真实与笔墨语言的融为一体。区别之处则在于黄宾虹先生坚持中国画的笔墨系统并回归自然，而知白先生则发展了中国传统画史中一向不为史家所重的“泼墨”传统，走向了主观心象的表达和内心情感的抒发，其画中的物象在视觉形象的丰厚朴茂方面，达到了一个苍茫寥廓的世界，我想称之为“心象山水”。在这一意义上，知白先生与罗丹相近，即他已经站在了传统与现代的临界点上，预示了新世纪中国水墨转向抽象与表现的历史趋势。

刘知白 丙辰册之春江夜月 1976年 纸本水墨

大哲学家熊十力先生强调人生与学术的最高境界即是“浑然与天地万物同体”的人生境界。著名国学学者袁济喜先生认为，中国传统文化所独有的“人生境界”，是理想与现实的统一，永恒与当下的统一。知白先生的水墨画，特别是晚年的泼墨山水，体现了一种超越世俗社会的高远境界，也呈现了先生历经磨难而不悔的浑厚丰富与苍茫寥廓的人生境界。

刘知白 丙辰册之携琴访友 1976年 纸本水墨

知白先生的笔墨随机、放松，富于行草般的书写性。其山水密而空灵，林木葱茏，生意跳荡，似有龙蛇出入，可以说达到了无法而法，无序而序。

刘知白 奇峰耸秀 1973年 137×68cm 纸本水墨

知白先生力图融会石涛与黄宾虹，其灵动自然近石，高远繁茂近黄。

知白先生的主要经验是对传统画学和画法的非凡致力，他使中国传统画沿着自己的轨道渐进创新。

知白先生是那个时代的中国画家走向抽象最远的一位，但又是与传统保持着最紧密的精神联系的一位。

刘知白 嫁女册之嘉平瑞雪 1976年 11×17cm 纸本水墨

在20世纪这样一个极度动荡与生活困难的时代里，在一个西方文化强势进入的文化环境中，刘知白先生与一大批优秀的中国画家一道，孜孜于中国画的守成与创新，成为了中国画传统的最后守望者和新世纪创新的前行者。他的艺术生活与杰出作品，将成为我们宝贵的文化财富，给予后人以无尽的审美享受和创新的启发。

2003年春,刘知白在贵阳家中挥毫泼墨的情景

（Yin Shuangxi）

Speaking of Mr. Liu Zhibai’s contribution to Chinese painting history in the 20th century, I can’t help thinking of two great artists. One is Huang Binhong from China and the other one is Rodin, the great sculptor of the 9th century in France.

刘知白 独树老夫册之二 1993年 15×15cm 纸本水墨

Mr. Liu Zhibai and Mr. Huang Binhong have similarity in that both of them learn from tradition instead of rigidly adhering to it, express life rather than paint realistically and study traditional techniques but pursue innovation. Finally they achieve the integration of inner truth and ink language. The difference between them is that Mr. Huang Binhong sticks to the brush and ink system of Chinese paintings and return to the nature while Mr. Zhibai develops the tradition of “splash-ink” which has been neglected by historians in Chinese traditional paintings history, expressing the subjective mental imagery and inner emotion. The objects in Mr. Liu’s paintings are rich and sincere in visual image, composing a boundless world. I want to call it “Heart of Landscape”. In this sense, Mr. Liu is close to Rodin, that is, he has stood at the critical point of tradition and modernity, indicating the historical trend of Chinese ink painting embracing abstract and expression in new century.

刘知白 门对寒流 1990年 66×45cm 纸本水墨

Mr. Xiong Shili, a great philosopher, stresses that the peak of learning and life is “Integrated with the Universe”. Mr. Yuan Jixi, a famous scholar of Chinese classics, thinks that the unique “life realm” of Chinese traditional culture is the unification of ideal and reality and of eternity and transience. Mr. Liu’s ink paintings, especially splash-ink paintings created in his later years reflect a high state surpassing secular society and reveal his rich and boundless life realm after experiencing difficulties without regrets.

刘知白 山水册1 36×24cm×6 纸本水墨

Mr. Liu’s brush and ink are free and loose, just like running . In his paintings, mountains and water are dense and dreamy, and trees are verdant and lively, just like there are dragons and snakes going in and out. He follows rule and order in looseness.

刘知白 山水册3 36×24cm×6 纸本水墨

Mr. Liu Zhibai tries to combine Shi Tao’s techniques with that of Huang Binhong. The liveliness and naturalness in his works is close to Mr. Shi while his loftiness and denseness is close to Mr. Huang.

刘知白 山水清音 2002年 138×64cm

刘知白 壬申山水第096号 2002年 68×133cm 纸本水墨

Mr. Liu’s main experience is his dedication to traditional painting study and painting techniques. He makes Chinese traditional paintings walk along its road to innovation.

刘知白 苍岭浮翠 2001年 134×68cm 纸本水墨

Mr. Liu Zhibai is the Chinese painter who walks towards abstract farthest at that time but keeps close spiritual relation with traditional paintings.

刘知白 雾 2000年 138×64cm 纸本水墨

In the extreme turmoil and hardship of the 20th century with western culture invading mightily, Mr. Liu Zhibai together with a batch of excellent Chinese painters devotes to the inheritance and innovation of Chinese paintings. They become the final watcher of Chinese painting tradition and forerunner of innovation in the new century. Mr. Liu’s artistic life and excellent works will be our valuable cultural treasure, providing later generations with endless aesthetic pleasure and enlightenment of innovation.

刘知白 溪山野趣 2000年 68.6×137cm 纸本水墨

刘知白