Ferry: Contemporary Mode of Ink and Wash,and exhibition curated by Xu Xianglin with my help,opened in the Art Gallery of Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts on September 4, 2006. When at noon I had lunch together with the critic Yin Shuangxi,one of the directors of the exhibition who had come to Tianjin to attend the opening ceremony,he said earnestly, 揑n the past more than ten years,you have been working assiduously for experimental ink and wash,its artists,and its development.You have made contribution in obscurity to the experimental ink and wash artists.You have never stopped.You have planned numerous significant artistic activities and published so many books of academic value. Now you should do something for yourself.You have produced so many works of art.You should sort out your work and artistic creations of these years in order that more people may have a more comprehensive understanding of you.It is not easy for experimental ink and wash to become what it is now.When I visited your color ink painting exhibition in 1993,I remember,you suggested that we should do something about the 憈rend and write articles together.It seems really something that happened only yesterday.”

　　I was indeed touched by these words.At the same time I was grateful to the critic for his understanding and insight.In fact,I have had the idea all along of publishing something for myself.But a lot of work has to be done for experimental ink and wash and that requires time.As a result,little time is left for myself.

　　I should really thank Brother Shuangxi for his support and encouragement.It was at this moment that I decided to publish a collection for myself.I invited earnestly Brother Shuangxi to function as the chief editor of the book at once,and he gladly consented.

　　Yin Shuangxi has done much for the book. We have sat chatting for several hours three or four times. We talked about the structure and the design of the book,my artistic creation,the development and problems of experimental ink and wash,and the relation between ink and wash and contemporary art,and he took a lot of notes.Our chats were interrupted by the telephone frequently.He was indeed very busy. He had so many things to attend to. I often felt sorry for this.So here I express my profound gratitude to him once more!

　　The editing has progressed smoothly.So much work,including planning,collecting of materials,sorting out,requesting contributions,designing,proofreading of more than 300 thousand Chinese characters,has been finished in only more than half a year.Therefore,I would like to express my special gratitude to Guo Yaxi,one of the planners of the book, special editor,and critic.He has helped much in the smooth completion of the book by writing an article in the midst of pressing affairs,proofreading the texts,and putting forward valuable suggestions.

　　This is not a pure album of paintings,but a document consisting of comments written by a number of critics and my works of art.The writers include critics of the older generation and of our own generation with whom together I have experienced the happenings in more than twenty years from the 85 artistic trend of thought to the present day and young critics who were born after the 1970s.In the past more than twenty years,I have made efforts to produce works of art and to do constructive work for culture, and have experienced both pains and pleasures.But what gratifies me most is the fact that those who love and help me include,apart from my family members,my close friends and so many critics who have paid attention to,shown solicitude for,supported and helped me for so many years.We have enjoyed art in artistic career and have promoted the development of art responsibly and honestly together.

　　I would like to take this opportunity to say something about my mother.No mother in the world does not love her children or is reluctant to devote herself always to them. My mother has shown endless love and care in her rushing about to seek help for my employment in Yangliuqing Fine Arts Press and her busy preparation for my marriage and so on.Perhaps there may be something not quite satisfactory or I,as a son,may have some complaints about my parents,but she has borne much hardship in obscurity for my undertaking.She has suffered from severe rheumatism of heart for several decades and today she is even suffering from ascites in thoracic cavity.She feels too painful to fall asleep every day and crouches in bed for whole nights.Even in such a situation,she will not disturb me for fear that she may add burden to me or waste my time.Her health is steadily deteriorating and I am very worried匢 want very much to do something for my mother to relieve her pain and improve her health,but I can do nothing because I am always so busy in my undertaking.It is my father who has shouldered all this.Thanks to my father! Thanks to my mother! Thank you for giving birth to me and bringing me up into such a man that is called an 揳rtist . My gratitude for my parents loving care,I know,cannot be conveyed in speech at all.

　　What kind of man is an artist? An intellectual aristocrat.Only an artist has the richest impression of the world.This is the privilege accorded to the artist by God! Perhaps I need not express my thanks to everybody,but everything within and behind the book will always be treasured in my memory.

　　Today抯 achievement of experimental ink and wash cannot be scored by only one or two artists.It is the result of numerous factors.Interaction is necessary in the development of art,whether it is support or criticism.Only in such interaction can artists and critics of experimental ink and wash shake off their previous narrowness and prejudice,can experimental ink and wash have a definite direction. Therefore,as far as the development of experimental ink and wash and its indispensable position in art history are concerned,we should thank the critics who have supported us and the critics who have criticized us.It is support and criticism that make experimental ink and wash what it is today.I have said such words,I remember,in the fourth volume of the series Trends of Modern Chinese Ink and Wash at the End of the 20th Century of 2000.

　　Similarly,as far as my achievement today is concerned,I should thank the critics who have supported and helped me and the critics who have criticized me.For it is your solicitude for me that makes me what I am today.

　　This book is dedicated to my mother!

　　Beijing, Before daybreak, March 12, 2007

作者：张羽