As the cultural life of the people becomes increasingly enriched and their cultural literacy improves, many households adorn their living spaces with calligraphy and paintings, embellishing their living rooms, studies, and bedrooms, adding radiance, and becoming a fashion statement. This is because calligraphy and painting are refined artworks that resonate with individuals from various professions and interests within the intellectual and cultural spheres. Moreover, they are increasingly cherished and appreciated, capable of cultivating an artistic ambiance, broadening perspectives, enhancing aesthetic appreciation, refining one’s thoughts and sentiments, bringing joy to the mind and body, elevating one’s taste, soothing the spirit, elevating the status of the owner, and enhancing artistic cultivation. The selection of Chinese calligraphy and paintings for display requires careful consideration. However, most people overlook how to choose and display these artworks in their living spaces to fully showcase the artistic charm of Chinese calligraphy and painting.
The choice of different types of calligraphy and painting will yield different effects. The selection of calligraphy and painting works for home decoration is crucial, and it can be based on individual cultural upbringing and preferences. One can choose from various styles such as authentic grass script, clerical script, seal script, or different genres of Chinese painting such as meticulous, freehand, landscapes, flowers and birds, and figures. Different framing styles, sizes, and colors can also be employed. Traditional mounting on scrolls, horizontal hanging, or framing with glass are ideal decorative options. A good piece of calligraphy or painting should be complemented by proper mounting, facilitating hanging and preservation for collection. Only then can it exude a sense of grandeur and elegance in the living space, delighting the viewer and leaving a lasting impression. When selecting artworks for display, whether in frames or scrolls, it is crucial to consider the colors of the paintings and calligraphy. This choice should be based on the actual living conditions, the ambiance, the size of the room, and the color scheme of the interior environment, such as the tones of the walls and furniture. Harmonizing these factors is essential for making informed decisions. For instance, if displaying large-scale artworks or smaller pieces in the living space for an extended period, consider mounting them on mirrored backings within frames. The presence of glass or protective film on the front of the frames helps to shield the artworks from the long-term effects of dust and other harmful substances in the environment, thus preventing deformities and preserving their elegance.
Generally, in well-lit areas with ample sunlight indoors, it is advisable to hang small regular script calligraphy or meticulous traditional Chinese paintings. In areas with dimmer lighting, consider displaying bold seal script calligraphy or expressive freehand paintings. Changing their placement can alter the impact: regular script calligraphy and meticulous paintings may appear blurry if hung in areas with insufficient light, while seal script calligraphy and freehand paintings might seem overly intense, disrupting the intended effect. Larger rooms can accommodate majestic, vigorous brushwork in grand paintings, emphasizing spaciousness, while smaller rooms are better suited for delicate, exquisite pieces, such as small regular script calligraphy or meticulous paintings, adding elegance without accentuating the space’s narrowness. Hanging landscape paintings can create a sense of spaciousness indoors, allowing one to mentally wander among famous mountains and natural scenery, as if dipping one’s feet in mountain springs and clear brooks. This decorative effect undoubtedly sets the mind free and often brings a refreshing and joyful sensation to the owner, purifying the soul. Flower arrangements and still-life paintings can enhance the indoor atmosphere, evoking warmth and sophistication.
Different artworks have the power to evoke various moods, and the content of calligraphy can yield unexpected effects. Throughout the ages, there has been the notion of “poetry and painting share the same origin.” For instance, hanging a calligraphic artwork of Du Fu’s “A Poem on Parting”: “Two yellow orioles sing in the emerald willows, while a line of white egrets soars into the azure sky. Through the window, the cold western ridges display thousand-year snow, and at the door, ships dock from the distant Eastern Wu.” It not only evokes the beauty of nature, the vastness of space, and the vivid imagery of spring’s arrival, but also embodies a harmonious fusion of distant and near, enduring and transient, in landscapes and customs. Li Qingzhao’s lyrics in “Pointing the Vermilion Lips”: “Upon seeing someone approach, she quickly slips her golden hairpin, blushes, shyly retreats, glances back at the door, then sniffs at the green plum.” Portraying a charming, innocent, and adorable image of a slightly mischievous maiden, it exudes a strong sense of sentiment, eliciting a knowing smile from the beholder. And of course, the familiar lines from Su Shi’s “Inscription on the Wall of the West Forest”: “Viewed horizontally, they resemble ridges; viewed from the side, they resemble peaks. Near or far, high or low, each presents a different aspect. Not recognizing the true face of Mount Lu, only because one is amidst it.” It prompts people to grasp the essence of “being in the thick of things” and underscores the necessity of observing things from a macroscopic and comprehensive perspective. Du Mu’s “A Mountain Stroll” with the verse “Pausing the carriage, I sit and admire the late maple forest, where frost-kissed leaves are redder than February flowers,” evokes the vividness, profundity, and richness of autumn scenery in the maple forest, as if one were personally experiencing the beauty of autumn firsthand. In accordance with one’s temperament, those of introverted and composed disposition or residing in arid regions may find solace in artworks depicting “water,” such as expansive seascapes or grassland scenes in traditional Chinese paintings, aiming for a harmonious and soothing effect. For those with extroverted and spirited personalities, serene forests or quiet countryside scenes are suitable choices to refine character. In the bedroom, a preference for subtle elegance is recommended, with artwork primarily featuring human subjects, fostering warmth through interpersonal connections.
In the living room, landscapes, flora, fauna, or calligraphy should dominate, creating an atmosphere that is lively and refreshing, resonating with the chirping of birds and fragrant blooms, thus cultivating a cultural and artistic ambiance akin to being immersed in the natural beauty of landscapes. In the study, calligraphy reflecting the owner’s aspirations, ethical values, and cultivation of character through poetry, idioms, anecdotes, or mottos, particularly in regular or clerical script, exudes an air of refinement.
Furthermore, rotating traditional Chinese paintings according to the seasons or festivals can yield varied effects. Different artworks are selected to correspond with spring, summer, autumn, and winter, as well as various festivals and occasions, reflecting a nuanced understanding akin to dressing appropriately for different weather conditions or occasions. “`markdown
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