MLitt Fine Art Practice School of Fine Art
Ronghui Zhu
On the vast grassland of Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia, China. I spent my childhood and grew up. Moreover, the prairie spirit, which combines the qualities of reverence for nature, peaceful pursuit, solidarity, freedom, openness, perseverance, and optimism, has long been deeply imprinted in my heart and has become an indispensable soul in my artistic creation. My works, whether it is the use of colour or the expression of emotion, strive to convey this spiritual power from the depths of the grassland.
Although I am a city dweller and have never really lived on the grassland, this does not prevent me from being full of curiosity and love for the grassland and its inhabitants. My art works are the carriers of this emotion, and they interpret my deep understanding and infinite love for the prairie spirit with a unique perspective and way. I know that even if I lack direct experience of grassland life, my personal perspective and emotional experience are equally valuable, and they give me a unique artistic language so that I can freely ride on the canvas to show the beauty of the grassland and the spirit of the people.
In order to dig deeper and express the prairie spirit, I embarked on a journey to live in different countries. I firmly believe that by experiencing the culture, emotions, and life of a foreign country, I can broaden my horizons and deepen my understanding of humanity, nature, and society. These valuable experiences will become an indispensable nutrient in my artistic creation, stimulate my new inspiration and thinking, and help me to understand and interpret the emotional and spiritual world of the grassland people more comprehensively.
Glasgow, a city full of diversity and inclusiveness, attracts me with its unique cultural atmosphere and rich details of life. Here, I will use the lens to capture the unique features of the city while reviewing and recording the grassland scenery and people in my hometown, as well as my images dressed in the costumes of the two ethnic minorities living on the grassland. These materials are fused through my brushes to form a series of artworks that span time and space and connect the emotions of the two places. They are not only the testimony of my deep understanding of the two cities but also a bold attempt at and exploration of the integration of culture, history, and modernity.
Aoluguya Wind Frost·Bridge of Art
This painting, which combines traditional culture with modern art education, emphasises the collision and fusion between traditional culture and the Glasgow School of Art. The grassland culture carried by Aoluguya ancient clothing is interwoven with the modern art concept represented by the Glasgow School of Art, reflecting my thoughts on tradition and modernity, the nation, and the world. It also reflects my determination to seek breakthroughs and innovation in artistic creation.
Continued
For me, this device may first symbolize the challenges and impacts that grassland ethnic traditional culture faces in modern society. The broken horsehead fiddle represents the damage or neglect of traditional culture in certain aspects, perhaps influenced by modern lifestyles or the impact of foreign cultures. However, the fragments of the horsehead fiddle have turned into seeds and grown Gesang flowers, which symbolizes that even if traditional culture has been impacted, its inherent strength and spirit are like seeds, with tenacious vitality, able to breed new hope and beauty. Gesang flowers grow tenaciously on the grassland, symbolizing the tenacious quality and endless creativity of the grassland nation. Gesang flower lifted the horsehead fiddle and bloomed flowers in the shattered area, reflecting my belief and expectation in the self repair and revitalisation of grassland ethnic culture. The shattered place is filled with flowers, which means that national culture can recover from setbacks and bloom again with brilliant brilliance. I want to express my profound emotions towards the traditional culture of the grassland ethnic group through this device, calling on people to value and protect their national identity and traditional culture. At the same time, I also want to demonstrate my optimistic attitude and firm confidence in the future development of grassland culture.
The Symphony of Balhu and Glasgow
The painting, which combines the national costume of Queen Balhu with Glasgow Cathedral, symbolizes the exchange and dialogue between different regions and cultures. On the one hand, I want to show the unique charm and solemn beauty of Mongolian culture, on the other hand, it is integrated with the western Gothic architecture, implying the commonality and mutual influence of culture. I think this is not only a combination of art forms, but also a reflection of the common pursuit of human spirit under different cultural backgrounds.
A Tale of Two Cities: Inner Mongolia Shadow Glasgow Charm
A Tale of Two Cities: Inner Mongolia Shadow Glasgow Charm are two paintings. My first painting combines the stunning landscape of my hometown Hulunbuir Prairie with Glasgow’s iconic statue of Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, whose distinctive head-mounted conical roadblock not only pays tribute to this historic hero, but also reflects Glasgow’s unique urban culture and traditions. By combining the remote and familiar prairie scenery with the iconic symbols of exotic cities, I wanted to express my deep yearning for my hometown, as well as explore the harmonious coexistence and dialogue of cross-cultural and trans-regional elements.
In the second painting, I turned my attention to the deeper level of cultural integration, placing the image of Mongolian women in the background of Glasgow University, which symbolizes western education and modern civilization. This composition not only shows the stark contrast between Eastern and Western cultures – Mongolian women as representatives of Eastern traditions and cultures, in contrast to the Western temple of knowledge represented by the University of Glasgow, more profoundly conveys the artist’s vision of mutual understanding, respect and integration between different cultures. Through this artistic creation, I also want to emphasize the importance of cultural exchange and integration in promoting the common development of mankind in the context of globalization.
