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Chan Chi Vai is a celebrated painter and calligrapher of Macao who has been long involved in the arts and culture scene, associating with or studying under many trendsetters and art masters. According to his own words, he studied Chinese and Western painting and sculpture under Zhou Gongli and Guan Wanli, calligraphy and seal carving under Luo Shuchong, classical Chinese poetry under Li Xinzhai, not to mention a good number of figures who were his friends as much as his teachers. Versatile, Chan is good at Chinese painting, including landscape, figure and flower-and-bird genres. In calligraphy, he is apt at the Four Styles of Calligraphy – excelling at running and cursive styles. He is also skilled at seal carving, following the Qin imperial seals and Han seals styles. Chan is also actively involved in creative activities in other artistic fields, having started his career back in the 1960s in sketching, watercolour, and sculpture and later on even dabbling in installation works. In recent years he has taken part in many different exhibitions, thus proving his eclectic passion for art.
Apart from diligently playing the artist’s role, Chan eagerly throws himself into social and cultural activities and endeavours, as well as teaching Sinology and art subjects to a wide following. Self-contained and introverted, Chan treasures his friends, praises his tutors and reveres their teachings. Because of his noble character, he was chosen as the head of the committee of Yu Un Chinese Calligraphers and Painters Association of Macao, succeeding Mr. Lin Jin. He is also an elected member of the National Committee of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles (CFLAC). These honours not only show a wider recognition for his artistic work, but also dignify Macao arts circle.
Chan has devoted particular dedication to traditional painting and calligraphy art. Debuting with Western painting, Chan later moved into Chinese painting and calligraphy, which soon became lifelong pursuits. As the artist explains, ‘Today most painters are trying to mix Western techniques with Chinese painting, but I want to set a good example (against this fad) by persisting in traditional Chinese painting’. As such he consistently refuses to use Western techniques in his Chinese paintings, and rather takes pride in inheriting the legacy of traditional literati painting. Throughout his five-decade long artistic career he remained creative, thus achieving notable deeds. As a result of his comprehensive erudition, Chan’s work displays mixed features and composite styles. His landscapes evoke Zhang Daqian’s, his calligraphy is akin to Lin Jin’s and Li Xinzhai’s. His figure painting is reminiscent of Deng Fen’s and his flower-and-bird of Ju Chao, Ju Lian and Zhang Shaoshi’s, while his seal carving reminds us of Feng Kanghou’s.
In a word, by using painting to illustrate calligraphy and calligraphy to show painting, Chan Chi Vai’s artwork is a fully integration of painting and calligraphy that proves his keep up of Chinese tradition. His work perfectly illustrates the artistic charms of traditional literati painting, where painting and calligraphy are inseparable. We firmly believe that spirituality and art can help each other, Chan will continue to plow a distinctive way in the arts scene.
Chan Hou Seng
Director
Macao Museum of Art
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