绘画，在我看来犹如画家同画纸、画布的交谈，有时似讨论，有时像闲聊。某个会议要围绕某个主题进行讨论最终会达成共识或决议，而暇时约朋友喝茶聊天则海阔天空漫无边际适时而收。画家与画纸、画布若围绕某些形象进行对话结果会产生具象绘画，而抽象绘画无需描绘形象不用刻意追求意味，这时画家与画面就像在作一次漫无主题的闲谈，轻松自由，随意自然，意到就收。

　　艺术传统是一种艺术家与观赏者在艺术形式上常年形成的共识，是作品通往观赏者的大道桥梁。因此作品表面只要恪守传统形式观者就会欣然接受，部分改良观者会受点刺激仍会勉强接受，而推翻传统就会遭到观者的拒绝。去创造新传统那就等于要与观者重新进行对话去达成新的共识，去开辟作品与观赏者之间的新通道。

　　在我看来，当代艺术展现的是一片“断古求新”的“繁荣”景象。对此，我造出一个词来叫做“续古”。过去，日本文化曾舍近求远去脱亚入欧，可到头来今天又要舍远求近返回亚洲了。因为他们觉悟到他们衣食住行生老病死悲欢离合都不发生在欧洲。我们当前的断古求新，也许到头来会变成“断新求古”。然而，求古是没有出路的。“续古”或许是有益的，因为我们就是从古走到了今，这是不容置疑的，也是别无选择的。

　　Some  fragments of thoughts dragged out when I am painting

　　What is the definition of painting? I would say that when a painter is doing painting, he is talking with the papers or canvas, sometimes he is trying to start a discussion and sometimes he is chatting. For a business conference, a certain subject has to be centered on and in the end the common view is reached by signing an agreement. Let’s forget about the boring business conference and just think about the time when we are having a cup of tea with friends in a warm sunny afternoon. At this moment our topics are so free and the unchained wings of our thoughts will bring us to the boundless space! How relaxing it is! Then we can just wrap it up at the right time. If the dialogue between the painter and the papers or canvas is based on some particular objects or images, it will result in representational paintings. However, the abstract painting does not depict reality and seek for an implication purposely. When a painter is painting the abstract works, he is just chatting freely at his own will with the papers or canvas with no particular subjects, so free and relaxing, he may stop at any time.

　　Switching back to the traditional art. With my own point of view, the traditional art is the common view reached by the artists and the viewers on the art forms. We may say the traditional art is the highroad leading the artworks to the viewers. So if the artworks abide the traditional art forms people will joyfully accept. Some improvements to the traditions may excite our lovely traditional viewers a little bit and they might say “yes”. However most of our viewers will throw eggs to those who have the audacity to overthrow the traditions. Hence, we need to start a new dialogue with the viewers and try to open new channels between the artworks and the viewers if we choose to make new traditions.

　　It appears to me that the contemporary art creates a flourishing view of “Free from the tradition, just be innovative”, for this, I have a new term “carrying over the tradition”(keep the roots).Looking back on the Japanese history, more than one century ago Japan used to “Depart from Asia and join Europe”, but today they eventually repositioned themselves as Asian again! Why? It is because that the indispensible daily necessities of life such as food; clothing; shelters and all family issues of the Japanese people are not based in Europe. Now let’s get back to “free from the tradition, just be innovative”, I guess it will change into “stay with the tradition and keep a little innovative” sooner or later. But only “stay with the tradition” will lead us to the dead end.  “Carry over the tradition” (keep the roots) is likely to be helpful and practicable for all of us are from yesterday, this is indisputable and we definitely have no other choices.

　　赵纪东译