Broomfield Conservatory: Discover the spirit of plant life through Chinese brush painting

"Chinese painting has a more than 2000 year history. Paintings mostly portray the natural world - flowers, birds, and wild landscapes. They are for participation or contemplation, and, since they are often seasonal, they help us to connect with the natural beauty that each season brings.

"According to oriental philosophy, with its strong influence from Buddhism and Daoism, everything is imbued with 'chi' or life-force (known as 'ki' in Japan). Each individual beings has its own particular chi or spirit; by connecting with it, we can enrich our own. My favourite expression in Japanese describes a person who is particularly sensitive to others - 'ki ga todoku hito' -  one who touches the spirit of another. On Sunday, using traditional brush techniques, we will look for ways to express the spirit of a plant.

"The paintings shown here are copies of demonstration paintings made by Master William Cai in classes at the Ruth Winston Centre. The painting techniques and composition differ from Western Art. The most exciting element for me is the brush, which is capable of holding more than one colour at a time. We will be trying out different strokes of the brush in ink or colour. As this is experimental, no experience is required - it's all about enjoyment!"