{"id":22849,"date":"2025-07-02T15:12:32","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T13:12:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.hahnemuehle.com\/en\/?p=22849"},"modified":"2025-07-02T15:36:08","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T13:36:08","slug":"brushstrokes-of-harmony-chinese-artist-hao-guocheng-talks-about-art-healing-and-inner-balance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.hahnemuehle.com\/en\/brushstrokes-of-harmony-chinese-artist-hao-guocheng-talks-about-art-healing-and-inner-balance\/","title":{"rendered":"Brushstrokes of Harmony: Chinese Artist Hao Guocheng Talks About Art Healing and Inner Balance"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Hello Mr. Hao, how lovely that you could take the time for this interview! We would like to thank you sincerely and are already looking forward to learning more about you. So, let\u2019s dive right in![\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

First, it would be great if you could tell us a bit about yourself and your personal background. Who are you, what are your passions, and how have they led you to where you are today?<\/strong><\/h5>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Hao: I’m a professional artist from China, I’m an artist, illustrator and designer by profession, and also engaged in teaching painting. I have been fascinated by painting since kindergarten. My family member who is good at painting, gave me a lot of support. I have been using drawing materials of international brands since 1998 back in elementary school. I\u2019ve always been drawn to cultural diversity, life\u2019s vitality, and regional differences in colour and texture.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

How would you describe your style, and how has it evolved over time? Were there any particular influences that shaped your style?<\/strong><\/h5>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Hao: My style is spontaneous, with realism and spontaneity. I love the rigor of the German artist Albrecht D\u00fcrer. The romanticism of the French artist Paul Helleu. The naivety, imagination, and simplicity of the French artist Rousseau. And Paul Rubens’s atmosphere and magnificence. Influenced by these masters of art, I have always wanted to express life, joy, goodness and love through the form of painting.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”22896″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Where do you draw inspiration for your beautiful creations?<\/strong><\/h5>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Hao: I get inspired to create by observing people and things around me, animals in nature, and high quality media materials inspired me as well.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”22884″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_single_image image=”22885″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Are there any particular themes or motifs that are especially close to your heart?<\/strong><\/h5>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Hao: My subjects are mainly people and animals. A central theme in my work is the \u201cTaihe Series\u201d, which features Chinese cranes as symbols of harmony\u2014both among people and between humanity and nature. \u201cTaihe\u201d, meaning \u201cthe Highest Harmony\u201d, carries deep philosophical meaning and defines the spirit of the series. The works depict scenes that express balance between heaven, earth, and all living things. These include serene natural landscapes such as mountains, lakes, and forests, as well as vibrant scenes full of flowers and birds. Some works show historic courtyards where culture and nature blend softly. Others are abstract compositions that convey harmony through subtle colour and form.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”22886″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_single_image image=”22890″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]Harmony of colours<\/strong> is the soul of watercolour and key to true harmony. This series shows a subtle understanding of colour relationships. Transitions are natural, soft, rich, and even. Tones are fresh and muted or rich and subdued. The whole must remain harmonious, rhythmic, and visually pleasing\u2014evoking tranquility, comfort, or sublimity. Strong contrasts and harsh conflicts are avoided in favour of dialogue and resonance between colours.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Harmony of technique and mood<\/strong>: Masterful watercolour technique\u2014water control, layering, use of white, texture\u2014serves the expression of mood, not showmanship. Technique and image form a unified emotional expression. The series modernizes oriental meanings, rooted in traditional Chinese philosophy: the unity of humanity and nature, and the law of nature. It seeks a \u201cmood\u201d and \u201cstyle\u201d beyond the visible. Qualities like serenity, subtlety, introspection, and ethereality define its aesthetic soul.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Harmony of composition<\/strong> focuses on balance, stability, and rhythm. Whether traditional or modern in layout, the goal is to guide the viewer\u2019s gaze in a harmonious flow. Main and secondary elements echo each other, forming an organic whole that creates a stable, atmospheric, or spatially deep mood.[\/vc_column_text]