The Contemporary Extension of ‘Capturing the Spirit Through Form’: A Study on the Unity of Formal Language and Spiritual Expression in Contemporary Ink Figure Painting

Abstract

Gu Kaizhi's doctrine of ‘capturing the spirit through form’ constitutes the core aesthetic principle of Chinese figure painting. Within contemporary solid ink figure painting practice, this ancient proposition remains not only relevant but has undergone profound extension within new historical contexts. This paper explores how contemporary solid ink figure painting employs concrete formal means—including figurative modelling, brush-and-ink language, and compositional structure—to transcend superficial resemblance and profoundly express the complex spiritual worlds and existential states of modern individuals. The article first retraces the traditional connotations of ‘capturing the spirit through form,’ then analyses the works of representative artists such as Li Bo'an, Wu Shanming, and Yuan Wu to demonstrate the high degree of unity between their formal language and spiritual expression. Ultimately, it clarifies that in the contemporary era, ‘capturing the spirit through form’ is not merely a creative method but also an embodiment of a humanistic spirit imbued with profound social concern.