Chinese art spreading globally in 2012
Article by Olivia Preston
Last year in 2011, China was the talk of the town. Well, in most things from economics to politics it has been the talk of the town for the past five years, but 2011 was particularly good for China and art.
For one, the country emerged as the world's number one market, at least measured in auction sales (people actually paying is another matter for another post). The figures from all the auction houses showed where the global wealth was flowing: Sotheby's and Christie's alone accumulated more than .8bn in Hong Kong alone.
In a similar trend, more Western nations are showing exhibitions of Chinese art, be it contemporary or ancient Chinese artworks. The latest case in point is The National Museum of Australia's A New Horizon: Contemporary Chinese Art described by critics as a powerful and important exhibition of contemporary Chinese art, all of which is on loan from the National Art Museum of China.
The exhibition features more than 70 sculptures, new media installations and paintings which have been created since the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949, after the KMT part fled to Taiwan. For Chinese art aficionados, you should be able to recognise some big names, including Qian Songyan, Liu Xiaodong and Shen Jiawei.
The works have been divided chronologically, with New China (1949-1977) covering most of the hectic days of propaganda art during the Cultural Revolution, moving on to New Thinking (1978-1999) and the years of opening up, reform and modernisation. Finally, New Century (2000-2009) reflects on the China that most people are familiar with - the big cities, wealth explosion and an increasingly assertive and powerful nation against the background of globalisation.
National Art Museum of China Director Fan Di'an said the past two years of cultural exchange between Australia and China have helped to promote and strengthen the relationship between the two countries, referring to the Australian exhibition of Aboriginal art that toured China in 2011. Mr Fan said he hoped ! the late st exhibition would help bridge cultural gaps between the two nations. "We decided to create an exhibition featuring Chinese art since 1949, one that located Chinese art in the context of social and cultural change. The representative artists and works have been selected to reflect the history of the time and its cultural landscape, and form a snapshot of Chinese art from the latter half of the 20th century to today," he said.
One important observation one gleans from the exhibition is that China was not as isolated as one may think. Chinese art in the 20th century had many Western influences, which arguably led to social changes in and of itself. The influence of art and culture continues to be reflected in the changes of norms and values, reflected in the production of art in the two countries. As National Museum of Australia Director Andrew Sayers said, the art of China in the decades from the 1950s to the 1980s was not as well known and further knowledge only increased understanding. "I am pleased to see that, as a result of their efforts, this exhibition has become a valuable contribution to Australia's understanding of Chinese visual culture," he said. People planning to visit Canberra, Australia, have until the end of January to see it.
The Contemporary Chinese Art
Peranakan Chinese Porcelain: Vibrant Festive Ware of the Straits Chinese (No)
Peranakan Chinese Porcelain is illustrated with over 800 full-color photographs of these distinctive porcelain types. Supported by text and photographs on many related aspects of the characteristic Straits Chinese culture, such as architecture, dress and cuisine, Peranakan Chinese Porcelain is a wonderful contribution to the history of the Straits Chinese.
Total Modernity and the Avant-Garde in Twentieth-Century Chinese Art
"Written by one of the most important advocates and theorists of contemporary Chinese art, Total Modernity and the Avant-Garde in Twentieth-Century Chinese Art traces the historical roots of contemporary Chinese art and interprets some of the most important events that shaped it over the past three decades. Making serious theoretical claims based on firsthand observations, this book sheds light not only on the unique characteristics of recent Chinese art but also on the growing complexity of contemporary art in general." Wu Hung , Harrie A. Vanderstappen Distinguished Service Professor of Art History and East Asian Languages and Civilizations, and Director, Center for the Art of East Asia, University of Chicago
Chinese Calligraphy (The Culture & Civilization of China)
Chinese calligraphy, with its artistic as well as utilitarian values, has been treasured for its formal beauty for more than three millennia. This lavishly illustrated book brings to English language readers for the first time a full account of calligraphy in China, including its history, theory, and importance in Chinese culture. Representing an unprecedented collaboration among leading Chinese and Western specialists, the book provides a definitive and up-to-date overview of the visual art form most revered in China.
The book begins with the premise that the history of Chinese script writing represents the core development of the history of Chinese culture and civilization. Tracing the development of calligraphic criticism from the second century to the twenty-first, the fourteen contributors to the volume offer a well-balanced and readable account of this tradition. With more than 600 illustrations, including examples of extremely rare Chinese calligraphy from all over the world, and an informative prologue by Wen C. Fong, this book will make a welcome addition to the library of every Western reader interested in China and its premiere art form.
In the Realm of the Flower Phoenix
The Flower Phoenix is an ancient handscroll which has been created through generations of women artists. The original page of the handscroll was created by China's Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai. The Tang Dynasty is considered by many to be the height of Chinese artistic culture, and Li Bai is China's most renowned ancient poet. Li Bai was inspired by the beauty of Yang Mei. Yang Mei inspires the master painter Wu Daozi. Wu Daozi creates the second page of the Flower Phoenix handscroll. Legends say that Wu Daozi was a mystical painter, who at the end of his life painted a doorway in the side of a mountain, opened the door and disappeared forever.
Each generation creates panels in the book. By telling the story, the storyteller creates a portal into the Realm of the Flower Phoenix. The "storybearer" reads the story and summons the power of the energy of all the generations.
The story opens with Mable "Peach Blossom" Yang's one hundredth birthday celebration. She is going to pass the book on to the next generation. Mable is the most potent storybearer in the family line.
Hand scroll paintings were rolled from one side to the other and as each painted section was revealed, the story of the imagery was viewed and discussed. The book unfolds over many generations and the lives of the long line of women artists who created the Flower Phoenix are brought to life by the telling.The Flower Phoenix is an ancient handscroll which has been created through generations of women artists. The original page of the handscroll was created by China's Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai. The Tang Dynasty is considered by many to be the height of Chinese artistic culture, and Li Bai is China's most renowned ancient poet. Li Bai was inspired by the beauty of Yang Mei. Yang Mei inspires the master painter Wu Daozi. Wu Daozi creates the second page of the Flower Phoenix handscroll. Legends say that Wu Daozi was a mystical painter, who at the end of his life painted a doorway in the side of a mountain, opened the door and disappe! ared for ever.
Each generation creates panels in the book. By telling the story, the storyteller creates a portal into the Realm of the Flower Phoenix. The "storybearer" reads the story and summons the power of the energy of all the generations.
The story opens with Mable "Peach Blossom" Yang's one hundredth birthday celebration. She is going to pass the book on to the next generation. Mable is the most potent storybearer in the family line.
Hand scroll paintings were rolled from one side to the other and as each painted section was revealed, the story of the imagery was viewed and discussed. The book unfolds over many generations and the lives of the long line of women artists who created the Flower Phoenix are brought to life by the telling.List Price: $ 0.99 Price: $ 0.99BK0271Y-Chinese Painted Fancy Basket , Vintage, China, Wood (Mu), Antique Asian Decor: Chinese Paint
- Vintage
- China
- Red / Gold
- 13" wide x 13" deep x 16.5" high
Chinese painted fancy food basket with carved images of bats of happiness and deer on lid and other Chinese symbols on the bottom rim. Reed handles and red lacquered finish.Price:Chinese calligraphy writing and brush painting / sumi set
- Great starter set
- 5 brushes, ink well / stone, ink stick, signing ink, stone chop, brush rest, & water well
- Nicely presented in chinese brocade gift box
- Size: 8.5" x 6"
- Made in China
Chinese character writing is a highly evolved discipline that relies as much on artistic craftsmanship, as it does on literary composition. Our basic writing set comes with two brushes, a black ink stick, ink stone and red ink for the "chop" or signature stamp. The ink is made by gently rubbing the ink stick in a small pool of water in the ink stone. This ancient method allows for very little waste. The same bushes and inks may be used both for writing and painting, as the two art forms are so closely linked. Our writing set comes from Shanghai, the literary capital of China. Also available on Amazon from REORIENT, is the traditional rice paper used for painting and writing.List Price: $ 14.94 Price: $ 14.94
In the Realm of the Flower Phoenix
The Flower Phoenix is an ancient handscroll which has been created through generations of women artists. The original page of the handscroll was created by China's Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai. The Tang Dynasty is considered by many to be the height of Chinese artistic culture, and Li Bai is China's most renowned ancient poet. Li Bai was inspired by the beauty of Yang Mei. Yang Mei inspires the master painter Wu Daozi. Wu Daozi creates the second page of the Flower Phoenix handscroll. Legends say that Wu Daozi was a mystical painter, who at the end of his life painted a doorway in the side of a mountain, opened the door and disappeared forever.Each generation creates panels in the book. By telling the story, the storyteller creates a portal into the Realm of the Flower Phoenix. The "storybearer" reads the story and summons the power of the energy of all the generations.
The story opens with Mable "Peach Blossom" Yang's one hundredth birthday celebration. She is going to pass the book on to the next generation. Mable is the most potent storybearer in the family line.
Hand scroll paintings were rolled from one side to the other and as each painted section was revealed, the story of the imagery was viewed and discussed. The book unfolds over many generations and the lives of the long line of women artists who created the Flower Phoenix are brought to life by the telling.The Flower Phoenix is an ancient handscroll which has been created through generations of women artists. The original page of the handscroll was created by China's Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai. The Tang Dynasty is considered by many to be the height of Chinese artistic culture, and Li Bai is China's most renowned ancient poet. Li Bai was inspired by the beauty of Yang Mei. Yang Mei inspires the master painter Wu Daozi. Wu Daozi creates the second page of the Flower Phoenix handscroll. Legends say that Wu Daozi was a mystical painter, who at the end of his life painted a doorway in the side of a mountain, opened the door and disappe! ared for ever.
Each generation creates panels in the book. By telling the story, the storyteller creates a portal into the Realm of the Flower Phoenix. The "storybearer" reads the story and summons the power of the energy of all the generations.
The story opens with Mable "Peach Blossom" Yang's one hundredth birthday celebration. She is going to pass the book on to the next generation. Mable is the most potent storybearer in the family line.
Hand scroll paintings were rolled from one side to the other and as each painted section was revealed, the story of the imagery was viewed and discussed. The book unfolds over many generations and the lives of the long line of women artists who created the Flower Phoenix are brought to life by the telling.
BK0271Y-Chinese Painted Fancy Basket , Vintage, China, Wood (Mu), Antique Asian Decor: Chinese Paint
- Vintage
- China
- Red / Gold
- 13" wide x 13" deep x 16.5" high
Chinese calligraphy writing and brush painting / sumi set
- Great starter set
- 5 brushes, ink well / stone, ink stick, signing ink, stone chop, brush rest, & water well
- Nicely presented in chinese brocade gift box
- Size: 8.5" x 6"
- Made in China
Comments