Chinese Ink Painting of the Times: Album of Masterpieces by Contemporary Chinese Flower-and-Bird Painters, Volume 5

Author: Shi Feng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-03-01
Features: Contemporary Chinese flower-and-bird painting emerges from the contradiction between inheriting and transforming ancient flower-and-bird painting. On one hand, it inherits the aesthetic tradition of ancient Chinese painting as a whole, is more directly inspired by the styles of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and is driven by the broader cultural context of the 20th century, leading to numerous variations in its aesthetic character. On the other hand, the major influences on it are first and foremost political changes and corresponding ideological revolutions, as well as a sociocultural factor—the impact of Western learning. The Western tide not only created a coexistence of Chinese and Western art in the entire field of Chinese art but also provided flower-and-bird painting with an additional channel for integrating Western techniques. From the perspective of style, contemporary flower-and-bird painting represents a new landscape where the creative transformation of the three traditional styles—freehand brushwork, semi-ink-and-paint, and meticulous brushwork—coexists with new styles born from the "application of Western learning to Chinese practice." We should recognize that the stylization of Chinese flower-and-bird painting is very strong, and reaching the level of stylization marks the maturity of art. It is essential to study the established styles and create new ones from life; when creating new styles, it is important to retain the fundamental elements of traditional brushwork and ink forms, preserving the great tradition of the nation.