Artwork Description

Title:Landscape

Artist
Tan Leiming

Date
n.d.

Medium:
Traditional Chinese Painting (Ink on Paper)

Dimensions
39.4 x 13.4 in (100 x 34 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
In Landscape, artist Tan Leiming transforms a traditional ink painting into a dramatic exploration of movement and energy. Executed in dynamic monochrome, the composition evokes the explosive force of a natural phenomenon—possibly a waterfall, volcanic eruption, or an abstracted storm—captured in the immediacy of expressive brushwork and splattered ink.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Tan Leiming employs the expressive power of traditional Chinese ink painting while diverging from its classical motifs. The energetic execution and gestural abstraction align with the literati spirit (wenrenhua) yet are infused with modern sensibilities, drawing comparisons to 20th-century Chinese ink innovators like Liu Guosong and contemporary abstract ink artists. The explosive central burst and fluid ink washes reflect an engagement with both spontaneity and control, key tenets of classical Chinese brush philosophy reinterpreted for a modern visual lexicon.

3. Historical Context
Although undated, the work exemplifies a contemporary approach to Chinese landscape painting that emerged in the post-reform era, as artists began to redefine ink art within a global context. The ink-splash technique (pomo) used here echoes the experimental spirit of the New Ink Movement, where traditional tools were used to express abstract and emotional content beyond the descriptive landscape.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The artwork is in very good condition. Framed with a wide off-white mount and protected under glass, the work is well-preserved with no visible signs of foxing, toning, or moisture damage.

6. Artistic Significance
Landscape stands out as a bold reinterpretation of the Chinese shan shui tradition. Through vigorous brush dynamics and bold ink contrasts, Tan Leiming constructs an emotionally charged terrain that speaks to the enduring relevance of ink painting as a Medium: of personal and elemental expression. The work is an excellent addition for collectors seeking contemporary innovation grounded in classical discipline.