The Characteristic And The Trend

The background of this paper is the history and current situation of Japanesefigurative paintings.By researching on their artistic characteristic,their genres and styles,the artists' creation and artistic ideas,their works and techniques and materials,thispaper explores the integration and renascence of the figurative paintings,which actuallyoriginate from the Western,in the context of Eastern artistic tradition.Meanwhile,certain reference for Chinese contemporary figurative painting would be provided.MoreSpecific studies in this paper include:<1>The development of Japanese contemporary figurative painting.This chapteranalyzes the course of Japanese contemporary figurative painting,Japanesecontemporary art system,and also the development of earlier realistic painting;and thuscomprehends the origin and current situation of Japanese contemporary figurativepainting as a whole.Herein,a way for further study is paved.<2>Analysis of the expressive forms.The author argues that although Japanesecontemporary figurative painting is greatly influenced by the Western,the Easterncultural spirits are deeply imbedded in it and whatsoever impress the expressivefeature of the painting.Among them is the appreciation and articulation of"significance"inherent in traditional aesthetic consciousness.Centering on this problemof"significance",the author categorizes the prime artistic expressive styles in Japanesecontemporary figurative painting into three ones,i.e.figurative expressive style,imaginary realistic style and figurative realistic style;and concretely explores thecharacteristic of the expressive style in the painting;and also emphatically recommendsand illustrates the representative painters' expressive styles and works pattems.<3>Study of materials and techniques.One of the obvious features of Japanesetraditional painting is the decorative and crafted quality,behind which really lies thepursuit of"object".Focusing on this,the chapter discusses the effect of thepursuit of"object"in the painting,as well as the artists' quest and achievement inaspects of materials and techniques.<4>Conclusion.The author generalizes the relationship between"significance"and"object"in Japanese art,and argues that"significance"and"object"become dissolvingwith each other within Japanese contemporary figurative painting.The author also examines some tendencies in Japanese contemporary figurative painting:the regressionof figurative realistic painting;the pursuit of particular techniques and individual styles;the emergence of the"introspectiveness"in art works;the trend of being divorced fromthe Western art ideas and art criteria.The attached is memoir of the author's interviews with four Japanese contemporaryfigurative painters,where the painter's growth in artistic creation,the painting ideasand artistic pursuit,creative motives and process of actualization,techniques andmaterials,are all thoroughly investigated.