2006 - Eastern Dawn - The 2nd Academic Invitation Exhibition of Famous Chinese Painters Works Catalog

Author: None
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Publish Date: 2006-11-01
Features: The concept of "The East Has Dawned" reflects the cultural self-awareness of the older generation of artists toward national art. It demonstrates a deep appreciation and love for local traditions while also showing a desire to transcend Western painting. Under this nationalist sentiment and awareness, it is essential to note that contemporary Chinese painting cannot afford to neglect the (adaptation) of outstanding contemporary global visual art concepts and languages, thereby constructing its new image against the backdrop of world art. If in the past, in the eyes of Westerners, Chinese painting was either demonized or mystified, then the presence of contemporary Chinese painting in the global painting landscape is not merely a unique painting form that, through its unfamiliar forms and expressions, presents an exotic charm to the audience. Instead, it must shape the contemporary form of Chinese painting by organizing traditional resources and integrating excellent contemporary visual arts. Especially in terms of interpreting the core of Chinese painting, "brush and ink," it should have greater cultural affinity, not allowing audiences from different cultures to be stopped by its mystery. Chinese painting must truly integrate into the global painting trend and, within this trend, stir up waves of Eastern significance, encouraging the world to remove its colored glasses of mystery and curiosity and to gaze at it with a respectful look. "The East Has Dawned" originates from the final line of Su Dongpo's "Preface to the Red Cliff Ode" from the Northern Song Dynasty: "Lying together on the boat, unaware that the East had already dawned." When it is repurposed as a culturally symbolic term, it undergoes two semantic changes compared to Su Dongpo's original sentence: one is temporal, as Su Dongpo spoke of the transition from a moonlit autumn river night to the dawn of the East, while Li Keran spoke of the transition from the dawn of the East to the full daylight. The other is in terms of mindset, as Su Dongpo described a tranquil and transcendent psychological experience, while Li Keran expressed hope and anticipation for cultural revitalization.