Ink and Wash Research Lectures series (2005-2012)

For Zhu Wei, ink and wash tradition is a process of leaving tradition and then reflect tradition again. The so called leaving does not mean a rebellion against the form and value of ink and wash, but rather, the breakthrough of existing framework and rigid rules established by powerful ink and wash tradition, such as the strict limits of traditional painting subjects which will limit the creative modeling characteristics, by Zhu Wei as an artist living in contemporary society. Yet when the artist keeps a distance from the tradition and then looks back to the rules of traditional ink and wash as well as the elegance and quintessence of traditional painting, a brand new perspective towards tradition will be brought to Zhu Wei. The so called being an apprentice with the ancient means that, thought the painting language of this artist after he experienced a 20 years ink and wash creation is still critical, allegorical and humorous, yet he shows his unprecedented calm and sincere attitudes towards his ink and wash language, which can be seen in the title “Ink and Wash Research Lectures series”. The variation of this kind of creation motive is vital for Zhu Wei to make clear his creation direction.

《水墨研究课徒系列》（2005-2012年）

水墨传统对于朱伟而言，是一个从传统出走，又重新反思传统的过程。所谓的出走，并非对水墨形制和价值观的背叛，而是朱伟作为一个生活在当代社会的艺术家，对强势的水墨传统造成的既有框架和僵化规则的打破，比如传统的绘画题材给了创作者森严的限制，从而会局限富有创造力的造型特征。而当艺术家离开传统一段距离后，再回望传统的水墨规制和传统绘画的优雅、典范，又重新带给朱伟全新的看待传统的视角。所谓与古为徒，艺术家在经历了一段长达近二十年的水墨创作之后，绘画语言虽则仍旧是批判的、讽喻的、诙谐的特点，但其对自身所使用的水墨语言，却是前所未有的沉潜、笃定，这从艺术家赋予这个系列的名字“水墨研究课徒系列”便可见端倪。这种创作动机的变化，对于梳理朱伟的创作走向，是至关重要的。