Decoration and Expression

Author: Jin Lin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: Art has two forms of expression: one is representation, and the other is expression. We advocate the latter, as stated by Matisse: "What I am after is above all expression." This is also the purpose of this book: to focus on the ubiquitous decoration and explore the boundless expression.
When discussing decoration, we can immediately feel its presence. For example, the door paintings on the gates of ordinary rural homes—those colorful woodblock prints—serve as decoration but are more than just embellishments. They often carry hidden meanings of warding off evil and bestowing blessings, which perhaps perfectly validates the saying: "Artistic decoration is a reflection of humanity's need for joy and escape."
This sentence is written at the entrance of an exhibition hall in the distant Victoria and Albert Museum in London. It guides people into the exhibition while also highlighting our inner desires. Let us knock on the door of decoration, appreciate its beauty, and explore its techniques.
Introduction
Chapter 1: The Origin of Decoration
Section 1: Worship of Deities
Section 2: Functional Extension
Section 3: Identification Marks
Section 4: Folk Customs
Section 5: Aesthetic Needs
Chapter 2: The Style of Decoration
Section 1: Regional Differences—Ancient Decoration and Past Glory
Section 2: Temporal Differences—Modern Decoration and Fashion
Section 3: Adding the Finishing Touch—Ubiquitous Decoration
Chapter 3: The Method of Decoration
Section 1: The Beauty of Four Dimensions
Section 2: The Beauty of Flatness
Section 3: The Beauty of Shape Adaptation
Section 4: The Beauty of Patterns
Section 5: The Beauty of Morphological Transformation
Section 6: The Beauty of Symbolism
Section 7: The Beauty of Repetition
Section 8: The Beauty of Symmetry
Section 9: The Beauty of Material
Section 10: The Beauty of Rich Color
Chapter 4: The Art of Decoration
Section 1: Painting, Drawing, Carving, and Cutting
Section 2: Sculpting, Carving, and Tie-Dyeing
Section 3: Calculation