REVIEWS 画评

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《系辞》：“圣人立象以尽意”。明确阐释了“象”与“意”的关系。 “象”指客观物象的具体可感形象；“意”是指主观意识的思想与情感。

《Xi Ci》: “The sages made their emblematic symbols to set forth fully their ideas.” This brings across the relationship between “Symbols” and “Ideas”. “Symbols” refer to concrete images; whilst “Ideas” refer to the subjective consciousness and emotions. 

意象绘画就是指画家通过在观察和表现客观物象中，把自己的主观而独特的艺术情感，不局限於具体的客观物象，而是源於生活，又高於生活的展现出来。

Imaginary painting refer to an artist expressing his subjective and unique artistic sense that came from life and beyond, through re-observation and representation of objective objects.  

云龙子先生的绘画作品，选用了中国传统文化中的“风水”题材，融入了西方绘画的色彩语言。在画面中营造出了色彩滨纷，五彩斑澜的颜色。给人以饱满的阳光之气，幸福之气。同时，还有一种“意会不可言传”的变幻莫测的艺术效果。

Master Yun Long zi’s art deals with the traditional Chinese culture concept of fengshui, blending it with the colourful style of Western painting, creating lively and fascinating paintings. Reflecting brightness, happiness and auspiciousness, while giving a kind of unpredictable artistic effect that “Can only be felt but not described”. 

云龙子先生自己独特的艺术感受和表现手法，充分体现了“法度旧，立意新”的艺术理念。 

Master Yun Long zi’s distinctive artistic sense and expression techniques fully embody the artistic concept of “Growing new from the old”.

中央美术学院教授 

翟欣建 

Central Academy of Fine Arts

Professor Zhai Xinjian

2019年12月21日

中国北京 

21st December 2019

Beijing of China 

It is truly an honour for me to say a few words on behalf of His Royal Highness Prince Sisowath Tesso and myself on the occasion of the Launching of Master Yun Long Zi’s New Series of Feng Shui Art and Feng Shui painting on Chinese Fans.

In an increasingly volatile world, it is always necessary to find refuge and solace in a place which can be a peaceful and harmonious setting to be able to keep our rationality. And how to make this environment possible? Here is where Feng Shui comes into the picture and who better than to introduce us to that exquisite environment than Master Yun Long Zi.

Feng Shui is an ancient combination of art and science, which originated in China some centuries ago, that aims to bring desired energy to our homes and workplaces.

Feng Shui at its most basic description is the interaction of humans and their

environments. The Chinese believe everything is living, and therefore has Chi, or lifeforce energy.

Feng Shui enables you to influence those energies around you, positioning or designing things in your surroundings so that you are in harmony with the principles of natural energy flow. This is why you might hear it also referred to as the ‘art of placement’. The belief is that if you get it right with your space, good energy will flow to other areas of your life.

Master Yun Long Zi creations are noted for being a symphony of colours because Master Yun’s art is a celebration of all things worth celebrating from health to wealth and from relationships to prosperity. Master Yun always focuses on the positive energies of the elements that can bring joy, peace, love and hope. He has mastered this exclusive expertise that has been passed down by five generations of his family.

Early this year, His Royal Highness Prince Sisowath Tesso and I were fortunate to attend an exhibition Master Yun Long Zi presented in Bangkok where Master Yun was kind enough to explain to a group of visitors to his Exhibition that the paper he uses for his paintings is a special paper made in China from herbs found in the mountain ranges and known as “Dong Ba” paper.

Master Yun also explained that in China most of the Feng Shui related paintings are done by farmers who after the harvest find themselves with a lot of free time and no income while waiting for the New Year. With their Peacock, Crane and Pine Tree paintings they earn some income which last until the next harvest, making them feel happy and lucky. This is why their paintings are known popularly as “Feng Sui paintings”.

What has impressed His Royal Highness and I most about Master Yun is his humility. He is a person who radiates happiness and well-being and who is always willing to share his extensive knowledge of Feng Shui with others, so they can also appreciate this ancient art.

On this auspicious occasion, His Royal Highness Prince Sisowath Tesso would like to present to Master Yun Long Zi a couple of presents which he has asked me to describe for you:

• The first present is a painting of Master Yun done by a young Cambodian artistdesigner named Em Riem, who has studied arts in Cambodia and design in France, and is now one of the leading contemporary Cambodian artist-designers.

• The second present is a replica of a bust of His Majesty King Sisowath of Cambodia, who reigned from 1904 to his death in 1927. His Royal Highness is a descendant of King Sisowath through his grand-father Prince Sisowath Rothary. This replica was specially commissioned by Prince Tesso from the artists of the National Museum in Cambodia. It is not commercially available.

I have myself brought two small presents, which I would like to present to Master Yun:

• The first one is a traditional Aboriginal painting from Australia, specially commissioned by my University in Melbourne from Aboriginal artists.

• The second present is a commemorative medal issued for the 90th Birthday of His late Majesty Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia in 2012. Unfortunately, the King passed away before his birthday anniversary. I was the late King’s Principal Private Secretary for 12 years.

For today’s exhibition, Master Yun is using fans made with rice paper on bamboo strips and decorated with Chinese motifs. I am sure all of you will enjoy and like it immensely.

Thank you very much for your kind attention.

Ambassador Julio A. Jeldres, PhD

6th September 2018

It was with much gratitude that I was invited to view Master Yun Long Zi’s paintings, as he prepared for his art exhibition “The Symphony of Prosperity and Elegance”. Despite many years of experience in the culture and education sector, I am deeply humbled to be invited to share my understanding of the master’s paintings, as well as how they have inspired me.

For centuries, Feng Shui has been an essential element of Chinese culture. It

requires many years of cultivation to be knowledgeable in theory and experienced in practice, something Master Yun has accomplished. Master Yun’s understanding of Feng Shui has risen to a spiritual level that is manifested in his Feng Shui paintings. This not only reflects Master Yun’s pursuit of excellence but also his talents in many aspects, as well as his extraordinary intelligence and capabilities.

All of Master Yun’s paintings include auspicious elements symbolising happiness, prosperity and fulfilment. There are peacocks, phoenixes, dragons and cranes, which symbolise elegance, bliss, fortune and longevity. There are also lotuses, gourds, lingzhi, peonies, orchids, lilies, as well as pines, bamboos and plums, otherwise known as the “Three Friends of Winter” 岁寒三友. These auspicious imageries blend in with the Feng Shui of a house, creating an atmosphere of harmony, warmth and happiness. These art creations are undoubtedly the quintessence of creativity and imagination.

All paintings created by Master Yun are distinctive and unique.

One dominant distinctive trait lies in his painting techniques. Most Feng Shui

paintings adopt either the traditional Chinese technique or the Western painting technique. To do a combination of both and have them blend together well is a meaningful endeavour by Master Yun. For decades, innumerable professional artists have attempted to apply both techniques to their works, and some have achieved good results. However, artists in the region who made such an attempt are far and few between. Master Yun noticed the limitations of both techniques and was eager to experiment with them so that he could achieve the congruity of East meets West. We see from his paintings today that it was an insightful and feasible attempt. It requires much time and effort to complete a painting, and often, Master Yun has to juggle a few paintings at the same time. For example, as he starts to paint the base of this painting, another one could be half-way through. When the first painting has thoroughly dried, the other one is ready to be embellished with gold foils. The cycle continues until both paintings are completed and framed. As a person who is not involved in the process, we are usually engrossed in appreciating the beauty of these paintings and tend to overlook the time and effort that go into them.

The paintings of Master Yun contain another distinctive trait that is very exciting, and that is the added element of gold. In order to achieve unique effects under different lights, Master Yun incorporates gold, silver and copper foils in his paintings. Take for instance, the gourd which represents good fortune and prosperity. Master Yun embellished the gourd with gold and silver foils, while copper foils are adhered to the flowers below. In his painting of the peacock, the peonies at the corner are embellished with gold foils, creating a contrast to the long, soft feathers of the peacock. When a viewer admires the

painting from different angles, the reflective gold, silver and copper foils add an illusion of depth to the flat image, giving the painting a stereoscopic 3D effect. As the poem goes, “Seen from the front, Lushan Mountain is a continuous and rolling range, while seen from the side, it turns into a single towering peak. It takes on different shapes as you see it from different perspectives—far or near, high or low.” The master took great effort to incorporate elements of gold into his paintings, is this not an example of leading the trend?

A true artist is relentless in his pursuit of excellence. To let his paintings excite and astonish the viewers, Master Yun also included the use of florescent powder. This allows the painting to look completely different at night as compared to the day. Indeed, the painting exudes a dreamy effect in green, blue, white and yellow under ultraviolet light at night, this is a stark contrast to its presentation in broad daylight! By blending in various elements to create multiple effects, this painting created by Master Yun is truly a sight to behold!

Admittedly, a bold attempt is not the same as a perfected skill. After all, art is all about the endless pursuit of excellence.

As we benefit from Master Yun’s paintings, we look forward to seeing more of his creations. May there be many more to come!

Associate Professor Luo Futeng

Head, Chinese Programmes

Singapore University of Social Sciences

8th April 2017

Master Yun Long Zi has been my close friend and geomancy consultant for many years. When I first knew Master Yun, he was serving in the education sector and was a great Chinese language teacher and department head. Later, he inherited his grandfather’s geomancy skills and became an excellent geomancy master. Master Yun’s geomancy skills are self-evident, and his thriving Lotus on Water Feng Shui Gallery is a testament to his great leadership and business sense. Whenever we meet, Master Yun shares his geomancy knowledge and business ideas generously. Though these knowledge and ideas seem unrelated to my field of work, I benefit from the new perspectives they bring into my work.

In addition to his success in the geomancy sector, Master Yun is most enviable

for his talents and creativity, which often amaze others. The paintings in this

exhibition are embodiments of Master Yun’s talents and creativity. The theme of this exhibition is “The Symphony of Prosperity and Elegance”, and every work on display is painted as a traditional Chinese painting, with gold, silver and bronze as its main colours. These metallic colours create an ambience of celebration and they are also mixed with fluorescent paint, giving rise to an extraordinary change of appearance during day and night, reflecting an air of elegance. The most classic amongst the paintings is the “Peacock Series”. Peacock is considered auspicious in many cultures; it symbolises elegance, wisdom, harmony and happiness. The peacocks in Master Yun’s paintings are beautiful, vibrant and life-like. The most critical is, of course, the significance of these paintings, which represents the equilibrium of celestial movements and the way of all things, whereby the yin and the yang co-exist and evolve in harmony. In short, Master Yun’s paintings exhibit an elegant charm and a style of joy, highlighting the notion of “Celebrationism” for all forms of prosperity. This exhibition is another milestone in Master Yun’s cultural achievements.

Associate Professor Goh Hock Huan

Hong Kong University

Master Yun Long Zi’s paintings focus on the subject matter of peacock. Viewed from a distance, it emerges as a defined flaunting peacock against a sea of sophisticated blooms. The former appears elegant while the latter seems plush. They are full of vitality and add to each other’s splendour, interweaving into a dazzling vivid scene.

Viewed close, the contrast in points and lines, and the combination of colours, thrusts the audience into a sophisticated realm. As if reminding them that varying distances, be it near or far, offers so much depth that there is more to this than meets the eye.

More amazingly, a change between light and darkness creates a passage between the façade and the interior. Vivid colours exit with the fading light, bringing forth the shimmering of gold and silver into a world of darkness. Being both mysterious and profound, it uncovers an unexpected perspective.

Colours, distances, depths and perspectives, reveal Master Yun Long Zi’s paintings’ sophisticated artistic conception.

Associate Professor Quah Sy Ren

Division of Chinese

Nanyang Technological University

Viewing Master Yun Long Zi’s paintings brings unspeakable pleasure.

At first glance, they seem like ordinary Chinese artworks: subject matters of flowers and birds coloured with inks and paints, and adorned with verses of poetry. But Master Yun’s explanation brings a new perspective to these paintings — they are more than what they seem and are very intriguing.

This exhibition, with a theme for “Celebration”, is meticulously curated to bring across Master Yun’s “Celebrationism” style of art. So, what is worth elebrating? According to Master Yun: “Health, wealth, peace, love… are all worth celebrating.” His positive attitude while painting is reflected in the joy of colours: the prosperous peonies, the leisurely cranes, the gorgeous peacocks…. The employment of bright and dazzling colours is entirely different from traditional Chinese paintings which are styled in gloomy tones and withering flowers. Painting is a form of visual art that is usually appreciated for the artist’s skills, employment of colours, style etc. Master Yun’s paintings go beyond these, he paints in glittering joyful colours and pens positive and cheerful lyrics on them, bringing viewers a sense of hope, inspiration and boundless energy. This is a first in the art world, reflecting Master Yun’s deep concern for all under the sun.

Another first in Master Yun’s painting, lies in the usage of gold, silver and bronze foil, creating different visual effects when viewed in day and night. This unique feature is in no way to show off the monetary value of his paintings. Instead, it carries a deeper meaning. Under fluorescent light, each painting appears as a sky full of stars. This conveys a message of The Symphony of pro SperiTy and elegance.

encouragement: regardless of your current situation, grasp the hope in this darkness and you will always arrive at a brighter future. Therefore, in the face of adversity, always be grateful, always celebrate, as this is Heaven’s way of nurturing us.

To a successful exhibition and for it to benefit the world.    

Dr Tan Li Xiang

Singapore University of Social Sciences

I met Master Yun Long Zi the first time in Cambodia in 2018. His Royal Highness Prince Sisowath Tesso of Cambodia graciously introduced me to him, and instantaneously I was captivated by the energy and spirituality that emanated from him.

A few days later, the Universe subtly managed to make our paths cross again, as I was on the same plane to Singapore as Master Yun. During the flight, he and I talked about many things but in particular about Feng Shui Art and his paintings, which at this time I only have had seen on photographs. And secretly in me awoke then a strong desire to see them one day with my own eyes.
The Universe must have heard me then, because barely a few months later, Master Yun granted me the honor of attending the "Celebration of Wind and Water" Lotus on Water event, his first exhibition in Europe, which took place in the Netherlands, in Amersfoort from 3rd to 5th May 2019.

This is a historical moment, I felt, when I entered the exhibition space. A new chapter in art. I would see people, all excited by the occasion, all waiting for this particular celebration, to receive new momentum to thrive. As they walk inside, they would feel the energy and vibrance radiating from the paintings. They would notice that every painting exhibited was carefully curated, nothing was unimportant, nothing left to chance. And they would feel the magic pervading this exceptional event.
It is quite difficult to write a clear description of the essential formal elements of each of Master Yun's artwork, such as colors, shapes, lines, use of light, gold and silver, even champagne (as I was told), every aspect of his paintings forms a whole and triggers the special emotion that only can be found in Master Yun's artwork. His positive energy travels in curves and colors, multiple layers through his paintings, it is vigorously applied, demonstrated, practiced and mentored to stimulate and motivate.

There is a sense of achievement in Master Yun's paintings, where style, substance and passion come together to strengthen the hearts and minds of people. Master Yun's art questions the norm, it celebrates creativity seriously and joyfully and provides guidance and support, brings joy, warmth and prosperity into people's lives, and instills in them a passion to do and to be better than they were before.

The climax of the event however, happened when Master Yun appeared  on stage to whip with masterful gestures gold and silver from a giant painting, swirling gold and silver leaves in the air, and to reveal to the enraptured audience another new astonishing work of art.

Joy and prosperity
Helmut Stampfli

[Contemporary artist, photographer]