| Fantastic Mountains in Chinese Art : AIS Professional Development Program
May 2004 Art Gallery of New South Wales Margie Collett, Class 2 Teacher
Casuarina Steiner School (Reproduced from Association of Independent Schools Newsletter) This was another outstanding day of primary teachers' professional development at the Art Gallery of New South Wales organized by the Association of Independent Schools. The day began with an explanation of this wonderful exhibition along with the services and expertise provided for the community by the Art Gallery. We rapidly came to appreciate the rigors of Chinese scholarship during the last 600 years and scholar's quest for enlightenment. After years of study the scholar makes a pilgrimage to the mountains to be close to the realms of the immortals. The mountains swathed in mist reach into heavens and in these ancient paintings we see the balance of the elements. In these paintings of rocks, trees, waterfalls, swirling steams, birds we can almost smell, feel and hear the mountain scenes. In the slide explanation of the Fantastic Mountains Chinese landscape paintings, Ann MacArthur juxtaposed photographs of the actual Chinese mountains, still areas of sanctuary and great beauty. This introduction set a mood of appreciation for the day ahead. After morning tea and animated talk amongst the participants we were treated to an Asian Gallery tour by a trained volunteer as if we were a group of school children. This was both fascinating and engaging as the guides had, in their project bags, activities and materials associated with the exhibition giving the children a hands-on experience in an atmosphere that is usually hands-off. What a wonderful free service is provided for us! Back in the Gallery boardroom we found felt rice paper, ink stones, ink sticks, bowls of water and calligraphy brushes waiting for us. Chinese landscape artist, Fergus Tam painted his own Fantastic Mountain landscape in front of our eyes explaining ink colour, brush stokes and texture as he went. Fascinating! Next it was our turn. We all enjoyed our struggles and in the process achieved a different appreciation of the mountain paintings. We looked at the paintings of the Chinese masters with different eyes when we returned to the exhibition, noticing the brush strokes, dots etc all keen to try again. The whole day was permeated with the beauty of the Art Gallery. The new Asian wing, made to look like a lantern, is light-filled and there are some places where incredible views of the harbour, the parkland and an old fig tree can be seen. The whole atmosphere of the day was one of friendliness and enthusiasm. One of our last activities was a visit to the Gallery's Asian Art Conservator, Sun Yu. This warm, unassuming man worked miracles cleaning and re-backing ancient paintings and manuscripts. In his workshop we entered another world, distinctly Asian, full of costly silks, different grades of rice paper, an intriguing collection of Japanese and Chinese brushes and latticed wooden stretching frames. We all agreed that his work was fascinating and some of us wished we could spend a month there just watching. The whole feeling of the day was one of Asian wonder permeated with the sunshine of Sydney harbour. A rare and priceless experience. Thank you so much Betty and the staff of the Art Gallery of New South Wales. | 
