賦予劉國松作品新生命

文／張孟起

兩度親臨虛苑國際版畫中心的劉國松，目睹三十多位技師，努力四個多月，將他一生中最滿意的代表作，以木刻水印、銅版、絲網等三版種製為精美版畫，他心悅誠服地向技師們說：「你們都是再創造我作品的藝術家。」

劉國松看到1米乘2米的木刻水印《世界屋脊》時讚嘆的說：「簡直比我的原作還氣派！」而看到絲網版畫《藍色光波》時驚訝的說：「比我的原作還漂亮！」這批版畫原作分別為大英博物館、舊金山亞洲藝術博物館、哈佛大學美術博物館、香港藝術館所典藏，劉國松慎重地在製作成不同版種的版畫上親簽「敬贈」字樣，以一一回贈各個原典藏機構，在在顯示他對這批版畫水平的高度肯定。

劉國松一生鼓吹「繪畫是不停的實驗」，也身體力行，開創許多新技法，呈現繪畫新風貌。高士畫廊委託虛苑製作的版畫，讓他對版畫有新評價：版畫並非一味複製原作，而是深入理解原作，運用豐富的技法和印刷經驗，以版畫獨特的藝術語言進行再次創作。他開心地說：「這批版畫賦予我的作品新生命。」

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New Vitality to Liu Kuo-sung’s Artwork

Twice visiting the Xuyuan International Print Centre in Beijing, Liu Kuo-sung witnessed months of hard work by over thirty dedicated printers, reproducing the most defining artworks of his career in woodblock, etching, and silkscreen prints. Delighted by the results, Liu kindly told them: “you are all artists of recreating my art!”

When Liu Kuo-sung saw the monumental woodblock print of Roof of the World, which measures one meter by two meters, he was awed by its immense presence, and praised; “this is more dignified than my original!” For the silkscreen print of Blue Light on the Ripples, Liu was overwhelmed by the vivid color, and declared it more beautiful than his original. In addition, Liu has decided to donate specially signed editions to the British Museum, the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, the Harvard Art Museums, and the Hong Kong Museum of Art, in which the original inspirations of these prints belong.

Liu Kuo-sung has long advocated “the art of painting is to constantly experiment,” and has lived up to his words, developing numerous innovative techniques in modern ink painting. Loftyart Gallery’s print project at Xuyuan has given Liu Kuo-sung a new appreciation for printmaking. In participating from start to finish, Liu realized that prints are not mere reproductions of original paintings, but recreations based on their inspirations, that not only reacquire an in-depth understanding of the original artistic will, but also a mastery of printmaking techniques in order to effectively recreate an artwork. In the spirit of experimentation, Liu Kuo-sung has once again challenged the boundaries of his art, and has happily concluded that “this series of prints give [his] artwork a new vitality.”

Richard MC Chang