River View through Twisted Branches

At first glance, this painting with its overlapping, twisting lines and randomly applied dots appears to be a work of pure abstraction. On closer examination, a riverscape with black-tiled houses and boats emerges through the gaps between branches and vines. This treatment resembles the style of Wu Guanzhong, a modern master especially influential with young artists attempting to blend Eastern and Western styles in a lyrical atmosphere. The strong sense of design and dynamic rhythm also recalls this master’s art. Yang actually graduated from the studio named after Wu Guanzhong at the Beijing Art School and later became a professional artist at the Beijing Fine Art Academy.