The Provocative Return
After my return from China, I found myself in a state of artistic conflict. I had mastered the disciplined elegance of the Chinese brush, but my Western soul demanded something rawer, louder, and more provocative. This finger painting art series (c. 1987) represents the clash of these two worlds. I abandoned the “noble” brush and began to paint directly with my hands, mixing Chinese ink with Western ink. It is a rebellion against harmony, seeking the beauty in distortion in portrait painting.
1. The Art of Touch (Zhihua)
Skin on Paper
In Chinese tradition, Finger Painting (Zhihua 指画) is a respected but eccentric path. For me, it became a necessity. Eliminating the brush removes the distance between artist and paper. The finger is both Yin and Yang (阴阳): It is soft (flesh) and hard (bone) at the same time. This duality creates lines that are erratic and alive—direct transfers of Qi (气) energy without a filter.
2. Breaking the Harmony
Expressionist Distortion in Portrait Paintings
While my Chinese teachers emphasized balance, my Austrian roots (Schiele, Kokoschka) pushed for psychological truth. These portrait paintings are intentionally “ugly” or disturbing. They explore the dark side of the psyche. The faces are masks of emotion, painted with rapid, aggressive strokes. It is the re-emergence of the Western ego, but executed with the fluidity of Eastern ink.
3. Material Resistance
Structure and Chaos
For my finger painting art I worked on “glued paper” (mounted or layered paper), which offers a different resistance than pure rice paper. The ink does not flow as easily; it pools and stains. This technical struggle mirrors the thematic struggle: The attempt to force the fluid Chinese medium into a rigid Western composition.
Yin and Yang in Conflict
Harmony is not the only goal. In Daoism, Yin and Yang are usually in balance. In this series, they are in conflict. The Yin of the yielding ink battles the Yang of the aggressive application. This tension makes these works “provocative.” They do not soothe the viewer; they challenge him.
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