Asian Ink Painting- Composition A State of Mind

Learning about Asian Composition can not only inform western art work, it can alter how we perceive. Having been blessed with opportunities to live and be deeply immersed in other cultures, has taught me never to assume a convention with out rigorous questioning. A thrill becomes the epiphany of  "I can see it!".
In Asian art, the empty space is as important as the painted on space. The areas cut out by objects should be as beautiful and eloquent as the defined elements. Placement should encourage the viewer to enter the world of the picture - not be such that the viewer remains outside looking in as western art  commands with a focal point. Elements of the objects can begin off the page then meander in and out taking the participant to unexpected places.
The Asian Artist especially in Haiku, but also in the visual arts takes the specific to the universal then back to the particular. The Asian Artist has 3 goals. First to solicit the response, "Oh that is nice", then of wanting to visit. If the artist is truly successful, the viewer wants to stay.
I recently read a lecture, "The Sound of Silence in Chinese Painting"  as reported by Linda Arntzenius on Theresa McNichol's work. Several key ideas are "Ultimately, the scholar-painter became the 'instrument" of communication between nature and humanity. " "Chi (or qi)- breath,vitality, life force-was not a question of dexterity, but rather, one of expresson. Eventually, Chi became a requirement in the other arts as well:literature first then poetry, which was sung. By the end of teh 5th century it was applied to painting and calligraphy.  The etymology of the Chinese character of which means 'to listen" and is composed of the elements, ear, king, mind, eyes, one-ness, heart." McIchol posed the question then," In Chinese painting what is require of the viewer?" to listen with our mind rather than with our ears, better still with our chi."(sz0139.wc.mail.comcast.net/zimbra/h/printmessage?id=60580&xim=1)

What Asian painting has taught me is how important it is that the elements of expression dance. There is a melody line, a tenor and a bass, grace notes and percussion. Paintings sing a story of what can be.