In ancient China, people often referred to the notion of viewing a painting as “reading a painting.” This process encompassed more than mere visual observation; it involved understanding, emotional connection, and intellectual exchange. It was as if one entered the artist’s inner world, where each brushstroke engaged in a dialogue, while every element—whether flowers, birds, or landscapes—served as a conduit to the soul.

When one stands before the works of Taiwanese painter Chiu Su-mei, this profound experience of “reading a painting” comes to mind. Chiu’s artworks resemble captivating poems that exude delicacy and mystery. They witness the artist’s journey, characterized by the principles of “drawing from the past, learning from nature, and flourishing within the heart.”

Drawing on the past

Chiu has dedicated over three decades to the practice of Gongbi, a meticulous realist brush technique in Chinese painting, garnering numerous prestigious awards in the process. Currently, she is also the Honorary Chairwoman of the Gongbi Painting Society of the Republic of China (Taiwan).

At her solo exhibitions, Chiu likes to include replicas of ancient paintings. While it’s an artistic approach that only a few artists adopt nowadays due to the difficulty and arguably low market demand, it’s one that Chiu embraces because it allows her to master the skills and philosophies of the great artists that have passed before her.

For over 2,000 years, Chinese dynasties have bequeathed a rich legacy of techniques and styles. This process began during the pre-Qin period (before 221 BC), flourished during the Han Dynasty (202 BC–220 AD), and continued through the Wei and Jin dynasties (220–420). It persisted through the Sui (581–618) and Tang dynasties (618–907), reached a golden aesthetic apex in the Song Dynasty (960–1279), and witnessed a proliferation of diverse styles in the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing dynasties (1644–1911).

Across generations of literati and artists, Chinese painting evolved into a mature system of techniques and aesthetics through which gifted masters left exquisite examples of brushwork that captured their subjects’ true essence and form.

These masterpieces have stood the test of time and served as benchmarks for modern artists from the East and West. Undoubtedly, imitation remains the most direct and efficient method for assimilating the skills of the past.

During the North and South dynasties (420–589 AD), painter Xie He authored the first book on Chinese painting theory, The Record of the Classification of Old Painters. In this seminal work, Xie explored brushwork, colour, composition, and mood—the foundational principles of Chinese aesthetics—and advocated for artists to imitate older works in order to study painting techniques.

Perfecting the craft

Chiu specializes in Huaniao Hua, also known as flower and bird paintings. She especially admires the Gongbi paintings of the Song Dynasty, a period celebrated for its minimalist yet timeless elegance. Chiu imitates numerous such paintings to understand the artists’ techniques. Through this exercise, she learns how these masters wielded their brushes, structured their compositions, meticulously captured details, and evoked emotions through their work.

“Song Dynasty Gongbi paintings exhibit an unconventional approach to composition and an elegant use of colours,” Chiu says. “They possess a prosaic and tranquil quality that aims to realistically capture both form and spirit while highlighting the atmosphere of the artwork. The act of imitating the works of Song Dynasty painters significantly contributes to enhancing my techniques, refining my colour application skills, and cultivating my aesthetic sensibilities.”

However, imitating old paintings is much more than creating exact replicas. The Qing Dynasty’s Jiezhou’s Studies on Paintings, a treatise on painting theory, states that “true imitation involves capturing the mood” of the work. The purpose of imitation isn’t to produce a carbon copy of the original, rather it’s about capturing its mood.

“What I gain from imitating old paintings evolves with each stage,” Chiu says. She likens recreating an old painting to the experience of reading a literary masterpiece. People tend to extract insights based on their experiences and mental state at various ages and points in life.

Inspired by nature

During the Song Dynasty, a period frequently referred to as the golden era of Chinese painting, artists often ventured into nature to sketch. Through meticulous observations, they endeavoured to portray their subjects with vivid realism, while also demonstrating reverence for nature’s creations. This approach enabled painters to deeply understand their subjects before infusing their emotions into their work.

Sketch of Butterflies, a signature work by Northern Song painter Zhao Chang, is an exemplary realist painting in Chinese history. Brambles, wild chrysanthemums, and frost-covered leaves evoke a melancholic autumn scene, while lifelike butterflies and grasshoppers represent life’s vitality and its gradual decline in autumn. This vibrant artwork exudes a sense of autumnal introspection, with the insects seemingly lamenting the passage of seasons and time.

Chiu adheres to this realistic approach by often venturing outdoors to sketch. Just like the great masters of ancient China, she understands that it’s only through capturing flora and fauna in their natural state that one can create work that truly resonates with the viewer and transcends the ordinary.

One of Chiu’s celebrated works, Harvest, demonstrates her profound understanding and appreciation for the wonders of nature. In this masterpiece, green bean pods and lush vines—each pod and leaf painted in its unique form—intertwine with beautiful pink blossoms, as lively yellow sparrows chirp and frolic across the composition. In addition to its masterful technique, the artwork offers subtle parallelisms to the realities of our world. Amid its professed chaos and complexities, there’s order and harmony, just like the rebellious vines and pods that coexist with delicate blossoms and vibrant birds.

Masterful brushstrokes

Gongbi’s two fundamental techniques—outlining and layering—test an artist’s patience and skill. Chinese painting has its origins in Chinese calligraphy, which relies on the use of a brush. By applying different pressures, the artist can create a boundless variety of thicknesses, lengths, and shades.

It takes a remarkable command of the brush to create majestic and intricate imagery. This skill is particularly crucial in Gongbi painting, where layered flower petals, detailed bird feathers, and complex foliage necessitate meticulous, thin outlining. These lines exhibit varying rhythms in terms of thickness and density and after at least six or seven layers of ink and colours, leaves, petals, and feathers truly come to life.

With over three decades of Gongbi painting, Chiu has transcended the confines of pure brush technique, pursuing her craft with unrestrained freedom and using it as a platform to express her innermost emotions. She also employs more flexible composition and arrangements to give her work an air of effortless poetry and casual elegance.

“I typically avoid overly bright colours in the background,” Chiu says, citing her work Melody of Lingering Lotus to exemplify her innovations in Gongbi painting. “The focal point can be enhanced with bright colours, like azure blue feathers and brick-red beaks.”

The interplay between muted and saturated colours has evolved into Chiu’s distinctive artistic style. The flowers and birds depicted in her paintings mirror dynamic melodies—sometimes exuberant and jubilant, other times serene and lyrical. The result is artistic perfection, but more profoundly it offers a glimpse into Chiu’s calm and joyful state of mind during her creative process.

Someone once likened painting to making fine wine. Only those skilled in discerning the subtleties that distinguish excellent wines from bad wines can craft a flavourful product. Likewise, only the most experienced and perceptive artists who have mastered the nuances of brushstrokes can create truly impactful paintings.

This metaphor aptly encapsulates Chiu’s artistic career. Drawing from the past, learning from nature, and guided by the heart’s aspirations, Chiu’s paintings, much like fine wine, leave us with extraordinary impressions that linger on.