As the autumn leaves turned golden in the last days of September, on 29 and 30 September, our Institute was also decorated with colours and blossoms as we celebrated the birthday of the great Chinese teacher, and philosopher Confucius.
Throughout the weekend, those interested in Chinese arts could take part in as many as 5 creative Chinese painting workshops with Qi Xiaoting, a Chinese artist from Ukraine. This is the second time she has come to visit us, after the successful Chinese calligraphy and painting workshops she organised in the summer. We were happy to see the happy faces of the workshop participants from the summer sessions. Even more we wre happy to see the constant smiles and the desire to create together with the wonderful artist.
Qi Xiaoting grew up in Kiev, but was forced to leave her home due to the war and is currently living temporarily in Germany.
Qi Xiaoting [Chi Shaoting] is a Chinese artist, calligrapher, art teacher and member of the Public Chinese Culture Club (Weifang). She has lived in Ukraine since 1997. She graduated from Kyiv Pedagogical University, Faculty of Art and Design in 2011. She studied with famous Chinese artists Zhang Zhungen, Zhang Huayong and Liu Zonggang. She has participated in collective exhibitions and held solo exhibitions in Ukraine, China, USA and Spain. Her works are in museums and private collections in Ukraine and several other countries. She has been working as an art teacher for more than 10 years and has her own art school "Skyline Culture".
She works in the traditional Chinese style of xieyi 写意 (expression of ideas or free brush). As usual, the artist is interested in conveying the spirit of an idea on rice paper, rather than the details and precision of external features. According to Chinese painting philosophy, beauty and wisdom lie in simplicity. Therefore, the paintings use forms of expression such as generalisation, hyperbole and abstraction.
For 5 days, participants had the opportunity to learn how to draw different flowers, important in Chinese culture, in xieyi style. In the first session, we painted orchids - a symbol of nobility, self-development, modesty and grace. In the second, we drew plum blossoms, which in Chinese culture are a symbol of inner beauty and modesty, of fortitude, and of an indomitable spirit. The five petals of the plum tree also symbolise the five blessings - Fu (福 happiness; good fortune), Lu (禄 professional success, excellent salary and respectable position in society), Shou (寿 longevity), Xi (喜 joy, happy marriage) and Cai (财 material prosperity, wealth). In the third workshop, we learnt about one of the 4 precious flowers in Chinese culture, the Chrysanthemum, a precious flower that symbolises a hermit's way of life, longevity, the peaceful sunset of life and the autumn, but at the same time, health and wealth. Here, we not only painted, but also tasted mountain chrysanthemum tea!
On the last day of the workshop, we enjoyed the spectacular wisteria, a symbol of respect and professional success in Chinese culture. And the last session was dedicated to the morning glory (in latin Ipomoeae) - a symbol of love and lovers who may only meet once a year.
We believe that by visiting and trying Chinese painting, the participants were able to experience a little bit of Chinese culture and the magic of its charm.
You can admire the artist's work here: https://chi.gallery/