Nishigoi (colorful koi Carp) and paitings

South Morning Post on 8th January, 2018 put an article of Beauty contest of Nishikigoi (colorful koi Carp) in Japan. The newspaper reported as a comment by the beauty contest organizer boss:

It is the curvature of the fish that accounts for 60 per cent of the final score, explained competition organiser Isamu Hattori, who runs Japan’s main association for breeders of koi carp.
Colour and contrast make up another 30 per cent, he said.
And the final 10 per cent? “Hinkaku” – a concept that is tricky to define and even harder to judge, best translated as the “presence” or “aura” of the fish.

So the beauty criteria of Nishigoi (colorful koi Carp) are

60%  Curvature (curves)
30%  Colors
10%  Hinkaku or 品格 in Japanese (“presence” or “aura”)

Somehow similar to the one of women's beauty contest. The last Hinkaku (“presence” or “aura”) cannot seen by eyes but felt as a whole, not part by part like Curvature and Colors.

This reminds me one important factor which is perceived in the paintings made by great Chinese masters -   "风格 (fengge)" in Chinese. But "风格 (fengge)" and Hinkaku or 品格 differ.

"风格 (fengge)" is usually translated as style (more precisely a painter's own original, unique and particular style while Hinkaku or 品格 is more like “presence” or “aura” or grace (gracefulness).

I used to usually judge good paintings by

Composition - 50%
Colors - 30%
Originality 20%

I missed the shape of a object or objects which usually have curvature (curves). So I have changed my criteria as

Composition - 40%
Shape(s) or curvature of object(s)  - 20%
Colors - 20%
Originality 20%


AAG