Nine Views Of The Huangshan Poem by Paul Hartal

'A glorious sunset over the Lotus Peak ',
said the disciple. But Tao Chi did not respond.
The artist kept his eye on the scenery
of the Yellow Mountains, a range of granite cliffs
of the Huangshang carved by glaciers
in Anhui Province. He inhaled the scent
of pine trees and watched the flight
of the swirling clouds.

They took a rest and listened to the song of birds.
And then the disciple asked: 'Master Chi, is there
a perfect method in art? '

Tao Chi smiled. 'The perfect method in art
is not following any method.'

'I strive for originality', said the disciple,
'how can I learn creating strikingly original
artworks? '

Tao Chi gave him a pensive look. 'Don't imitate
others', he said. 'Not even the greatest artists.
Be independent. Create your own style.
Yet at the same time honor tradition.
Study the history of painting and earn from
the works of the old masters.
An extraordinarily novel and unique style
sprouts out of old templates.'

'Master Chi, you have descended from
Prince Zhu of the Ming Dynasty. Yet I believe
that one day your ‘Eight Views of the Huangshan'
will make you more famous. But let me ask you,
are there ten thousand more pictures
of the same place in your heart and memory? '

'No', said he. 'Like I had written in the ‘Hua Yu Lu',
my real quest is the genesis, the spirit of the single
brushstroke, discovering the roots of the future
in the strata of the past, reducing everything to
the primordial line.'