Contemporary

Modern and
Arts of China

Objectives:
Enumerate the different styles and forms of arts in China Appreciate the styles and art forms Enjoy looking at different art works Create simple works of art.

Contemporary

Modern and
Arts of China

Chinese art (Chinese: /) has varied throughout its ancient history, divided into periods by the ruling dynasties of China and changing technology. Different forms of art have been influenced by great philosophers, teachers, religious figures and even political leaders. Chinese art encompasses fine arts, folk arts and performance arts.

Painting
Modern art forms in painting offers a fine spectrum of works that dates from 19th century to 20th century. The development of painting began in the 19th century when Sun-Yat-Sen focused himself to s revolution in art. He and his followers combined the local style with elements of Western and Japanese realist paintings to create an art they hoped would be more accessible to most of the Chinese.

In 1911 1950 the art education in Chinas modern schools was dominated by European artistic techniques which educators considered important for engineering and science. Gao Jianfu introduced the development of a New National Painting (Xin Guohua), this distinguish it from Western Sytle oil painting, water color painting or drawing and became another option to Chinese artists.

Autumn Hawk by

Gao Jianfu

Gao Jianfu began studying with a prominent local artist, Ju Lian, in Keshan, Guangdong at the age of fourteen. He learned under his master's tutelage to paint flowers, plants, and insects in a subtle and highly naturalistic manner. Immediately before he executed this set of paintings Gao Jianfu began what was to become an important period of experimentation. These scrolls, then, with the delicate beauty of their vegetal subjects, sum up his early career. In particular, they retain the mogu, or boneless, techniques of Ju Lian, especially his methods of applying water and powdered pigment directly to the painting surface.

From the idea innovation materialized, Chinese believed progress could be, and should be attained within the confines of Chinas own cultural tradition. Thus, some of them recognized conceptual similarities between Western Modernism and self-expressive and journalistic qualities of quohua and so allied themselves with modernist oil painters.

Calligraphy
Calligraphy is the art of making beautiful or elegant handwriting. It is a fine art of skilled penmanship. The word calligraphy literally means beautiful writing. Before the invention of the printing press some 500 years ago, it was the way books were made. Each copy was handwritten out by a scribe working in a scriptorium. The hand writing was done with quill and ink onto materials like vellum or parchment. The lettering style applied was one of the period bookhands like rustic, carolingian, blackletter, etc.

Calligraphy
Chinese calligraphy (Brush calligraphy) is an art unique to Asian cultures. Shu (calligraphy), Hua (painting), Qin (a string musical instrument), and Qi (a strategic boardgame) are the four basic skills and disciplines of the Chinese literati. The hand-written styles of ancient carvings possessed aesthetic power that was admired by many calligraphers like Zhao zhiqian (1892 1927) Wu Changsi (1844 1927) and Kang Youwei (1858 1927) Lu Youren, an active supporter of Sun Yat Sens revolution introduced caoshu which according to him could be made easy to read, easy to write, precise and beautiful, and thus promote national efficiency. Tiexue the study of traditional or classical calligraphy was revolutionized by Shen Yinmo (1883 1971), Lin Sanzhi (1898 1989) and Wong Xizhi into their own individual styles.

Calligraphy

Sculpture
Chinese sculpture has experienced further development since the Revolution of 1911. Its dissemination and promotion achieved prominent progress. Modern Chinese sculpture in china began in 1920 when young Chinese sculptors from universities of foreign countries (France, Britain, America, Canada, Japan) held several sculpture exhibitions depicting foreign and traditional Japanese cultures carved from wood, stone, bronze and other hard materials.

Sun Yat Sen Statue

Sculpture
Some known scuptors and their works are: Su Hui Swan; Pan He , Duan Jiyu and Duan Qilai Fisher Girl, Wang Yilin Dove of Peace, Yin Jichang Fire Sheeps to mention a few.

Architecture
Architecture are combinations of lines, colors and elaborate and beautiful arrangements of timber beams, which are very much depicted in Chinese temples and pagodas. Even here in the Philippines you will see Chinese temples and pagodas. Chinese architecture refers to a style of architecture that has taken shape in Asia over many centuries. The structural principles of Chinese architecture have remained largely unchanged, the main changes being only the decorative details. Since the Tang Dynasty, Chinese architecture has had a major influence on the architectural styles of Korea, Vietnam and Japan.

Review Questions
The least initial deviation from the truth is multiplied later a thousand fold. Aristotle

Review Questions
Answer with honesty

1. What are the different art forms in China? 2. Describe art education in China. 3. What is the meaning of Calligraphy? 4. In 1911 1950, the art education in Chinas modern schools was dominated by _______. 5. Modern Chinese sculpture in China began in ____. 6. ____ are combinations of lines, colors and elaborate and beautiful arrangements of timber beams. 7. ______ and _______ are examples of Chinese architecture.

Thank you!
Submitted by: Delsie F. Falculan Submitted to: Ms. Mylene Marco