Art of healing, healing of art

Beijing artist Zhang Yanzi does wonders mixing medicine with ink

Susan Sontag once wrote, "Art is not consciousness per se, but rather its antidote -evolved from within consciousness itself."

Beijing-based artist Zhang Yanzi has ideas with a similar effect: "Affliction of the soul needs consolation of the spirit; an antidote is the mountains and rivers, is light clouds and a light breeze."

From March 1 to 5, Zhang's artwork was on display through Hong Kong's Galerie Ora-Ora at VOLTA NY 2017 at Pier 90 in New York.

Zhang was rated one of the five must-see artists at VOLTA NY by the Art Zealous and Hamptons Art Hub websites.

The only Chinese artist at this year's show, Zhang is considered a pioneer in converting the language of ink from the traditional to the contemporary.

She incorporates familiar medical products from the East and West - herbal medicine, gauze, bandages and pills - with Chinese ink and wash painting, exploring how medicine cures the body and art cures the soul.

Born in 1967 in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province in Southeast China, Zhang was exposed to medical paraphernalia like syringes and stethoscopes from an early age - her father was a veterinarian.

"I put the (stethoscope) in my ears and sang into the resonator; you can't imagine, the stereo effect was just like karaoke," Zhang recalled. She even used syringes to inject water into steamed buns.

Recognized in her youth for her artistic talents, Zhang dedicated herself to mastering the skills of classical painting and calligraphy.

She started to learn portrait painting in wash and ink at Beijing Normal University, and after years of practice, eventually began to create outstanding work.

In 2000, Zhang's husband became ill, and in the following years, she lost both parents in quick succession, which brought her profound sorrow. She has been thinking deeply about matters of art and life ever since.

In 2007, Zhang earned a master's degree in painting from the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing.

"Around 2010, I felt contemporary art was having a huge impact in China. Even though I knew wash and ink painting was great, classic, I didn't want to do repetitive work anymore," she said. "If I did anything creative just for the purpose of creation, it seemed too intentional."

Sanctuary (left, ink on analgesic plasters, 2016) and Scar (ink on gauze bandages, 2016) by Zhang Yanzi are on display at Volta NY 2017 in New York. Hong Xiao / China Daily

Zhang had a revelation one day when she casually depicted in ink some cold capsules scattered on her desk.

"Usually, the subject matter for Chinese ink painting are flowers, birds, fish, insects or landscapes, all natural things," she explained. "So I felt there was a collision between wash and ink painting as the traditional art technique and the capsules as the products of modern civilization, which was interesting."

Gradually, Zhang grew obsessed with depicting medical-related subjects - syringes, pills, stethoscopes and scalpels - with her brush.

And gauze and bandages replaced paper after she tried depicting an image of Buddha on an analgesic plaster.

"After I finished, I suddenly experienced the subtle similarity between medicine as a physical remedy and religion as spiritual remedy," she said. "It moved me so deeply I could barely speak."

Zhang recalled that at a solo exhibition in 2013, a visitor who was seriously ill came to talk to her.

"She said when she looked at my paintings, she had a great feeling of happiness, which even made her forget her illness and feel peace and tranquility both in mind and body," Zhang said.

"I suddenly realized that art really can calm people's minds and affect them strongly," she added.

Chinese poet Bei Dao described Zhang's work as representing "a subtle balance between art and healing".

"[Her work] elevates medical metaphors to the level of religious rescue, this stroke of genius completely proves daily eternity, which is an attempt to declare her true intention," wrote painter and art critic Xu Lei.

"Readymade applications in modern art are a completely new invention, but very few Chinese artists have such an expression in their faith system, accurate, touching, indescribably wonderful," wrote Xu.

Zhang believes that humans were born to suffer pain. "From the body to the spirit, we always have confusion, and we need a remedy for it all," she said.

Zhang currently serves as the editor-in-chief of CAFA ART INFO at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing.

xiaohong@chinadailyusa.com