Xu Wei

[image_with_animation image_url=”8621″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Xu Wei (1521-1593) was a Ming Chinese painter, poet, calligrapher and dramatist. He was raised by a single mother who died when he was 14. He married a woman, who died 5 years later. He fought Japanese pirates. He had bipolar disorder, a condition recognized in China, so after the pirates things got ugly with his mental state. He attempted suicide 9 times, and murdered his third wife in paranoia she was having an affair. After dying in poverty, he became well known for his flower and bird paintings.

Age old question: Should we separate the art from the artist?

I’d prefer not to. These are flower paintings made by a man in a lot of pain. He murdered his wife. We are all complicated beings, and the flowers are no less beautiful to me. The story of the maker can surround the art with context, complexity, and depth. Knowing dirt about an artist can also totally ruin an artwork for me, but I’d still prefer to know the whole story, rather than ignorantly enjoying the half.