2009年“大象藝術空間”能為藝術家—張羽，舉辦他在臺灣的第一次個展，感到榮幸又深具代表意義。歸類原因有三点：

　　一、張羽是中國大陸實驗水墨的領軍人物，是當代水墨具代表性的重要藝術家。這是從中國大陸幾十位批評家，對張羽的評論文章中所獲得的共識。張羽自1984年後就開始他的現代水墨探索，他以藝術家、編輯、策劃的多重身份，在當時大環境困頓萬分的情況下，以藝術的真誠，從藝術實踐和出版兩方面推進大陸現代水墨的發展。並以一種全新的觀念從真正的意義上進入當代。在通過對大陸當代水墨的瞭解發現，其實，在這個領域真正具有當代性、創造性的藝術家寥寥數人，張羽便是其中的典型。

　　張羽的性情孤獨，少言語，幹練的外表透露出才思敏銳。雖然平日裏不善於言表，而當進入他的藝術世界，卻是滔滔不絕，你很快即被感染，並從中發現他內心氣質裏的那一種孤傲和貴氣。推究原因來自於他的家庭背景，古人云：三歲看大七歲看老。在他外祖父輝煌的年代，曾為母親、舅舅輩留下非常優渥的生活條件，和許多珍貴的文房四寶及有價值的字畫，如八大、任伯年、齊白石等。幼年的張羽曾經在這裏生活並目染了這一切!

　　二、在大陸當代水墨中，張羽的近作其創作方法超越了媒介的特指，通過行為和行為留下的痕跡，再通過天光的自然進入，呈現出一種超出想像的境界，張羽稱之為“自然中的自然”。為了這個“自然”，張羽放棄了幾乎所有水墨畫中討好的因素，遠離了水墨的外表，卻走近了水墨的本質。迄今為止還沒有那位水墨藝術家，像張羽這樣敢於如此的面對水墨，如此的表達，如此的單純，如此的驚奇。張羽的作品具有大師般的氣度。

　　三、“大象”成立以來，始終的追求是推出高品位的藝術家和高品質的藝術作品。希望“大象”的歷程能與幾位優秀的藝術家或大師一起走過!

　　大象藝術空間館藝術總監：鍾經新

　　It is both significant and meaningful that DaXiang Art Space has the honor to present the first solo exhibition for artist Zhang Yu in Taiwan this June. There are three major reasons that this honor has been brought to us:

　　1.Zhang Yu, an important representative artist of contemporary ink and wash, is the leading figure of mainland China’s experimental ink and wash. Dozens of art critics in China consent to his reputation. Zhang Yu started his exploration in modern ink and wash in 1984. With his multiple identities as an artist, an editor, and a curator, he managed to propel the development of modern ink and wash in China through two ways, art practice and publication, during severe circumstances and the harsh conditions of that time. Finally, he truly entered the “contemporary concept” from an entirely new viewpoint. Through our understanding and discovery of China’s contemporary ink and wash, we have found that there are very few artists who are both innovative and creative—and Zhang Yu is the model among them.

　　2.Zhang Yu is an eremitic man who does not like to talk. He is not so much a conversable person most of the time; nevertheless, when it comes to his world of art , he will elaborate his discourse without stopping. From the appearance, it is obvious that Zhang Yu is perspicacious and talented. People will soon be influenced by him and then discover certain pride and royalty in his intrinsic disposition. He has inherited all these characteristics from his family. An old idiom says: “Three tells of one’s adulthood, seven foresees one’s senior life.” In his best days, Zhang’s maternal grandfather endowed his mother and uncles with a very wealthy life as well as many precious scripts and paintings—such as paintings by Bada Shanren, Ren Bonian, and Qi Baishi—and the four treasures of the study—writing brushes, ink sticks, ink slabs, and paper. Zhang Yu, in his childhood, lived in such an environment and was imperceptibly influenced by what he constantly saw there.

　　3.In the contemporary ink and wash scene of mainland China, Zhang’s recent style and skill has surpassed the fixed ideas provided in the mediums. His creativity has gone beyond behavior and its trace, and entered spontaneity through the heavenly light and presented a certain realm in art. Zhang Yu has called this “the nature within nature.” For this “nature,” Zhang Yu has almost sacrificed all the favorable factors found in a ink and wash painting. Removed from the external features of ink and wash of water ink art, his works come closer to its essence. So far no water ink artist dares face ink and wash in the way Zhang Yu does with certain expression, certain simplicity, and certain surprises. Zhang’s works are masterpieces.

　　We have always been looking forward to presenting superior artists and fantastic works of art since the establishment of “DaXiang Art Space.” We wish “DaXiang” can be the companion of those outstanding artists and masters.

　　Da Xiang Art Space

　　Art Director:Chung Chinghsin

　　New York, February 3, 2009