Carve Out And Develop

As the first generation sculptor who went to France to study in the context of western learning introduced to China, Liu Kaiqu’s lifelong achievements have influenced the development of Chinese modern sculpture, which make him become a leading figure who takes a very important position in the development of Chinese sculpture. It is helpful to study his artistic creation and artistic thoughts in order to understand the development of Chinese modern sculpture. This article will focus on part of his influential works and summarize his theory system by combining artistic theories, educational thoughts and his contributions. The article will mainly analyze how his works make western modeling language and thoughts co-current flow with Chinese social context and shape his unique artistic characteristics. By comparing Liu Kaiqu with his contemporaries, this article clarifies the common qualities between different sculptures. From different angles of individuality, universality, dominance and recessiveness, this article also explores the connections between the art forms of sculptures and social ecology at that time so that to reflex the inner side of the sculpture creation process of Liu Kaiqu.The introduction states the reason, purpose, meaning of selecting this topic and its research status and defines the contents, concepts and the methodology used in the research. Chapter one recalls Liu Kaiqu’s innovation consciousness which was formed during the “May forth” movement and the guidance he got when he was in France. Chapter two explores the Liu Kaiqu’s unique way of fusing ancient and modern, west and east while he was innovating sculpture in a barren time. Based on the previous chapter, chapter three interprets Liu Kaiqu’s works after the Anti-Japanese war, which is exemplified by two of his relief works“The peasants and workers home”and“Monument to the People`s Heros”during his peak times. Chapter four summarizes Liu Kaiqu’s artistic theories and his contributions to educations and regards his sculpture creation and education as two important aspects which compose his sculpture theory system.