Latent Enlighten - Fantasist B
150x150 cm
Acrylic on Canvas
2017
Exhibited at Nimgbo Museum of Art, 2017

The Latent Enlighten Series
Most of the motifs for The Latent Enlighten Series come from famous traditional Chinese paintings or auspicious images in Chinese folk art, i.e. human figures and animals. "Reclusion" is a unique connotation of Eastern culture. Ancient Chinese artists believed that "reclusion" can not only stay away from the turmoil of the world but also focus on oneself to inspire talent and improve the quality of life. Ancient Chinese artists generally had two methods in expressing the concept of “reclusion” in their artworks.
Rapid and spontaneous brushworks, a method similar to the “sketching” style and the “splash ink landscape painting” style; other artists employed the literary concept of metonymy. By depicting a vast landscape and tiny human figures, the artists displayed the existing state of a recluse. Ann Niu decided to combine these two methods. Nevertheless, The Latent Enlighten Series is also inspired by Shi Tao’s idea where “the ink is given by God, yet we could paint by following our heart.” Thus, the figure of the subject is hidden, but the spirit is shown. To display the formless yet eternal spirit and aura is the reason why Ann Niu started to paint The Latent Enlighten Series.