During recent years，Zhang Guilin made many Silkscreen prints based on patterns of fish.

　　He asked my opinion about them and I asked him a question back, whether or not you're just trying to represent the fish themselves?

　　After that，in 2004，a set of his silkscreen prints with the similar theme of fish made me feel different.From making a study of his works based on my own experiences，I found a further，level in the spiritual-minded chasing for art and the relative steadiness as well as the excited handling of the silkscreen printing skills

　　In early 1980s，like an explorer，he's been kept questioning the future of prints while questioning himself where he should start from at the same time.Since people in this field had realized that print needs an innovation both in originalities and techniques.The truth is，at that time the majority of people are blank-minded without impassioned longing. It ended up with a situation that artists usually focused on skills and techniques in stead of ideas.

　　The art concepts had ever been taken over by political ones for a time.Once things changes back，the artists perceived that they were outdated and eager to catch up with the modem time.It happened that the silkscreen print Was coming up and the artists including him，Zhang Guilin，Started Working on it at once.After the practices lasted nearly 20 years，the artists are no longer satisfied with the basic knowledge about the silkscreen print during its early boom and turning to

　　upgrade the level of spiritual originality based on techniques.

　　Zhang Guilin has been walking up all the way on this subject. His art practices concerning it reflect this trend exactly.

　　Zhang's early works showed an unstable quality attributed to the variety of his attempts.He handled the skills, techniques and materials fervidly such as multi-color, giant size and strong taste of painting to meet as much as the demands of representation not only be wanted but also be suitable to express like historical，realistic，cultural and aesthetic subjects. As a result, these works characterized a vague and superficial mind.However，his experimental attempts profited from the sprouting of Chinese modem art.On the other hand，his experimental attempts also push forward the expansion of the free space of art creativities.

　　Zhang's works of l980s consist of two styles：tranquil sceneries and unrealistic Structural sceneries. In former-style works he tried his utmost to build a lyric mood with delicate color and elegant composition.But the influence of woodprint still can be seen from the skills used in them.The latter ones display the unique feature of silkscreen print by put the unrelated elements such as old buildings and photographic techniques together to make an ideal combination like montage True-life images and unique repeats lead to uncon-ventional association caused by firmness, fancies and different space-times coordinate with each other.Doors，windows and clouds as visual elements can be found in every piece of his works.The doors and windows seem to open a time tunnel for the viewers to look back into the history.And the silent floating clouds play a role of both guide and eyewitness between the remote antiquity and nowa-days.Questioning to the past from time to time mirror his ponder upon the tangle puzzles related to life.This is also the people's common expectation when the phrase Cross the river while tracing the Stones the wafer cautiously was being pushed.

　　In 1990s，Zhang Guilin's former Style was fading from his works.There were still old buildings as well as doors, windows and clouds, but the hesitance in his mind had been revealed.He was quite clear about his current situation and trying to get out of the fixed pattern.From the works such as Juyong Pass，A Hew outside of the Forbidden City，Cloth Tiger and Soul Torii which he made in late 1980s to The Autumn of 1990，you can perceive his attempt at break- through. Obviously, he tried to handle an individual Style of visual languages.And the most striking aspects of these works are the theme of which is getting much more close to real life links to casual skills end up with an easeful meaning.It tells his awakening after self-reflection of using traditional painting style，folk art and graphic design for reference.

　　By this advance practice，Zhang Guilin wondered where the way is he should take.

　　lmages of buildings are continuously used. It's not only a kind of personal preference but also a study into spiritual and experimental field.The series-work named Wall is the fruit of his exploration.

　　There are a few points distinguish the trend of the theme of these works from the ones of 1980s.For example，he turned a piece of element of old building into architecture line drawing and made them coordinate smoothly to give viewers a feeling that their minds are swinging between reasonable and unreason-able as well as reality and ideal.That frames a historicaI space and time.Many times he drew some relaxed or even turbulent lines to sparkle the prints.They seem like casual but important.They break the stiffness and keep the prints alive.They also look like the fairies are joking or the trails leaving by something When they are flying in the air.With in without，this is the reason why the works have such a strong character of surrealism.You can't get an instant answer---- this kind of experience is so funny.

　　Since from 1995，the subjects of Zhang Guilin's silksreen prints show a sharp turn. Before that，he praised the Chinese ancient civilization and tried his best to tie it in with the modern concept.But then he was touched by some more important social events like the demolishment of part of old residential section and put his former theme aside.Anxiously and angrily，as a contrast against this cold fact，paper cranes and paper balls go into his works from the memories of childhood. The more he gave emphasis to the richness and complexity of texture,the more the viewers could feel the loss which you cannot regain like the time goes by.Walking old-style clothes，flocks of snow-white aigrette dancing on the eaves of aging building……As hidden ghosts，all of them are taking the last glance at this old city.

　　Then the follow series-work named Stage，the Roles all passed by like passengers together with those solid-like buildings，Zhang Guilin prints the paper.He also prints his deepest suffering.

　　Walking into the new century，Zhang Guilin has been working on the series-work named Roles with former theme fish for five years.It seems like that he won't Stop it in a Short time.He also get inspiration from new materials and techniques such as water-based paint，moulage and texture which rich his imagination further more.

　　Fish. Water. They divide the space of the prints respectively to shape a mutual relationship absolutely. And the unnatural mysterious tone leads to an unnatural-oriented viewing style.

　　When I enjoying the work called Life，I think about Hong Yingming's word In Ming dynasty said“Fish do not know the sea.Bird do not know the sky”.It means that although the fish are living in the sea and the birds are living in the sky，but they don not realize how important the sea and sky are to them.As to human，do we realize how important the living space is to

　　us?If there is a short of oxygen and water，it is hard to avoid cheat and carnage caused by human's selfishness.Lao Zi said: Good fortune and misfortune transform eternally.The light-heartedness offish is rely on the water，and the lightheartedness of birds is rely on the Sky.But how could fish and birds know that while you are safe you'd better be aware of danger?They are not space-concerned.That is the reason why the fish and birds are admirable. As to human，the living space is both power and advantage.The minority is eager to rob the ad-vantages which belong to the majority.There always be unfair.

　　During the last 20 years，I always kept an eye on Zhang Guilin's silkscreen print works.He has come through different staves，from history to culture to human being.on the other hand my sentence to article.

　　I advised Zhang Guilin that if he put more idealism into his works he could reach a greater freedom.With his passionate and diligent qualities，Zhang Guilin will make progress con-stantly and gain recognition by his persistent effort.According to his close attention to the society，his works will be more and more various and deep.He travels in art field.And he leaves steady footprints behind him.

　　Guang Jun：Dean of Printing Art Department，Chinese Artist Association

　　Professor of Central Academe of Fine Art Doctor Advisor