Emptiness as a Visual Strategy: An exploration of visual absence in contemporary art practice

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Emptiness as a Visual Strategy -An exploration
of visual absence in contemporary art practice
Zhao, Yue Qu Master of Art Design Auckland
University of Technology
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Abstract

• Visual absence
• Emptiness and fullness
• Methods reduction, incompleteness and metaphor
• Complementing visual clarity and obscurity

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Contents

• Emptiness and visual absence
• Artists works
• Between Gong Bi and Xie Yi
• Practice and reflections

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Emptiness and visual absence

• Leading to unknown
• The absent presence
• Between likeness and unlikeness
• Internal pursuit and external rationale

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Artists works

• Gong Bi ?? the fine details and meticulous
  drawing skills
• Tranquil moment of harmony

Artist unknown. Lotus. Song Dynasty. Painted on
silk. 238 x 251mm. The Palace Museum, Beijing.
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Artists works

• Xie Yi ?? Emphasis on simplicity, metaphor and
  spontaneity with a strong subjective expression
• An absent presence

Xu Wei (1521 - 1593) Ink Grapes. 1657 x 645 mm
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Artists works

• Blending the East West

Zhao Wou-ki. 20-4-74. Oil on canvas100cm
Sin-May Zao Collection Paris
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Between Gong Bi and Xie Yi

• Infinite possibilities of blending
• The extended aesthetics
• Perceptible feelings that unfold intellectual
  enlightenment

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Reduction forCapacityMetaphor behind the
workTranquilityMystery
Methods

• Zhao, Yue Qu. Limpid. 2006 Water colour, rice
  paper 332 x 332 mm

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Incompleteness forVast likenessMetaphor
behind the workDesolationMystery
Methods
Zhao, Yue Qu. Fuzzy Land. 2008. Water colour,
rice paper 332 x 332 mm
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Methods
Reduction forSimplicityIncompleteness
forInfinite extensionMetaphor behind the
workSentimentEmotional space
Zhao, Yue Qu. Rain. 2008. Water colour, rice
paper 332 x 332 mm
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Methods
Incompleteness forInfinite extensionOnenessMe
taphor behind the workSelf-derivationVitalityH
armony
Zhao, Yue Qu. Cool breeze. 2008. Water colour,
rice paper 332 x 332 mm
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Methods
Reduction forFading outIncompleteness
forEmptinessMetaphor behind the
workEmptiness

• Zhao, Yue Qu. Iris. 2008. Water colour, rice
  paper 332 x 332 mm

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Summary

• Visual absence doesnt work on its own
• Emptiness frees artists mind
• Discover an immanent world of oneself
• Every moment is temporal
• Meditative space both for artist and viewer

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