Chinese and Painting: an outsider's, inside experience of the Lingnan School and Xie He's writings.

In this thesis, I draw on personal experience and contact with painters from within the Academy [of Fine Arts] structure, art associations, societies and individual practitioners, both in China and overseas. I choose to use the materials of brush, ink and paper that make up the treasures of the artist's studio. My understanding and interpretation is based on my experience as apprentice to master Fang Chuxiong, a third generation master of the Lingnan School. My perceptions were further shaped by the discussions on art theory and practice I had with masters and professors from both within the Lingnan School and outside the academy structure.