《Dance Soul》 (2020) Tablo 锐 纪 tarafından

"Dance Soul" – A Fusion of Eastern Spirit and Western Dynamism

Created in 2020 by artist Ji Rui, this oil painting harmonizes the ethereal grace of ballet with the philosophical depth of ink-wash aesthetics. Centerstage, a dancer in a pristine white tutu leaps into the air, one leg extended and arms raised in a seamless arc. Her elongated torso, poised neck, and delicate fingertips embody the classical ballet’s codified elegance—twisting, tilting, and arching with fluidity that transcends mere physicality. Behind her, ghostly silhouettes of dancers blur into the shadows, their forms dissolving through layered grays and soft washes, evoking the ink-wash principle of “negative space as meaning.”

Ji Rui’s groundbreaking technique bridges East and West: The tutu’s fabric wrinkles are rendered with thick, tactile impasto strokes, while the background melts into indigo-black voids punctuated by crimson accents—reminiscent of stage spotlights freezing motion. Calligraphic brushwork along the edges suggests traditional ink texture, lending depth to the flat canvas. Yet the dancer’s sequined shoes and pearl hairpin retain hyperrealistic detail, symbolizing a dialogue between antiquity and modernity.

The work’s core lies in its exploration of duality: The dancer’s vivid dynamism contrasts with the static, ink-heavy backdrop, mirroring the interplay of bold and subtle in Asian brushwork. The peripheral figures, echoing the “three-distance method” of classical Chinese composition, create spatial tension while symbolizing the eternal cycle of dance. By blending oil paint’s luminosity with ink’s subtlety, Ji Rui reimagines ballet—not as a fleeting performance, but as a timeless meditation on artistic transcendence.

Signed and dated 2020, the piece embodies a singular vision where Western discipline meets Eastern spirituality, inviting viewers to witness the soul’s dance beyond cultural boundaries.