赵无极：追逐天空与云雾，探索中国美术学院的入学难度

在赵无极的画作《我在杭州的家》中，我们看到了一幅布面油画，尺寸为65×80.7cm，创作于1947年。这幅作品描绘了变幻的水波中，一道阴影将它们遮掩，使得美丽的水中之居被笼罩。法国大诗人亨利·米肖曾赞誉这幅作品，说它是“变幻的水波中，一个阴影将它们遮掩，美丽的水中之居被笼罩。”

然而，这次我们不再谈论艺术，而是要探讨中国美术学院入学难度。就像赵无极一样，每个想进入中国美术学院的人都需要付出巨大的努力和坚持。

据了解，赵无极是第一个依靠自己的艺术才华在法国生活下来的中国画家。他27岁时离开杭州赴巴黎前夕，他老师林风眠曾警告他，不要对在世界艺术之都——巴黎立足抱任何幻想。然而，在他的心目里，他一直坚信，只有通过不断学习和实践才能真正实现自己的梦想。

今天，如果你想要进入中国美术学院，你也会面临同样的挑战。你需要展现出你的才华和热情，同时也要准备好迎接未知。在这个过程中，你可能会遇到困难，但正如赵无极所说的那样，“我一生致力于绘画，我心中的绘画。”只要你坚持下去，无论结果如何，都能从中学到宝贵的一课。

Zhao Wou-Ki, My Home in Hangzhou, 65×80.7 cm, oil on canvas, 1947

"Variations of water waves, a shadow hiding them,

A beautiful dwelling by the water enveloped in mist."

— Henri Michaux

"The artist dedicates his life to painting; the painting within him."

"I rise every morning and enter my studio."

These words were written by Zao Wou-Ki himself in the opening pages of his autobiography with his third wife Françoise Marquet. The year he wrote this was when he was already over 80 years old.

Zao Wou-Ki is known as the first Chinese painter to have made a living solely through his art while residing in France. His peers who went to study oil painting abroad either gave up on their artistic pursuits or returned to China (some switched back to painting traditional Chinese paintings). Only he and Jia Qi remained exceptions.

The first time I saw Zao Wou-Ki's name and his oil paintings was in H.H. Arnason's book "History of Modern Art: A Survey of Its Development from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day" during the 1980s. In Chapter 23 titled "Abstract Painting," there was a section discussing Parisian painters around mid-20th century that included about twenty artists from various countries like France, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, Canada; Zao Wou-Ki being the only Easterner among them.

Arnason praised him as an artist skilled at interchanging light and shade for creating romantic space effects with airiness.

In fact Zao Wou-Ki and his friend Beaux-Arts architect Le Corbusier are mentioned together as two Chinese individuals featured in this publication.

Born in Beijing (Peking) on February 13th of 1921 into a family where grandfathers were once Confucius scholars each day reading one hour out loud mainly Tang poetry Song lyrics Mencius Analects which instilled strict yet thoughtful education cultivating relentless spirit even till late age still able paint hours upon hours daily routine started drawing due father early amateurish competition later financial necessity becoming employee then rising ranks collecting antique calligraphy literature young ambition contrasted later wealth provided security son become artist interestingly initially mimicked patterns currency bills quickly entered character enjoyed process French poet Henri Michaux wrote eight prose poems for initial stone printings mentioning "in changing waters shadows hide it beautiful residence surrounded mist." However after three years seeing Paul Klee's works swaying inspired new freedom expression abstracts canceling details revealing line segments leisurely strolls ethereal weblike strands finally found complete freedom strength combining modernist artistic sensibility innate talent continuous absorption new elements inherited thousands-year-old tradition still present work admired poet René Char writing introduction exhibition stating "there cloud-roaming Orpheus' lyre magic emptyness magnetism composition elements interconnected generating novelty like colorful hues sunsets sky" three years later architect Beaus-Arts Y.C.Matiss Gallery New York exhibition catalog preface claiming now without exaggeration say today European contemporary greatest artists one