Research On Pei's Modernist Architectural Aesthetics

I.M.Pei,a Chinese-American architect,was deeply influenced by Chinese traditional culture and directly inherited from the core of modernism architecture.He won the Pritzker Prize in 1983 and was praised as the "Mandarin of Modernism" and "the Last Master of Modernism".Modernism architecture is a major revolution in the history of architectural style.Beginning with the ideal experiment and exploration of industrialization and democratization of intellectuals represented by Bauhaus,after a hundred years of development,it has become the main visual landscape in the world today.As a completely different form from traditional Chinese architectural culture and system,Modernism architecture is regarded as an imported product.It has always been confused with political ideology and national identity,and China is basically excluded from the world Modernism movement.When the contradiction between international individuality-free modern technology and the need for sense of belonging and identity leads to the crisis of representation in Modernism architecture,legitimacy and orthodoxy are widely questioned by various trends of thought after post-modernism.Chinese construction industry is facing the dual problems of how to transform from the pre-industrial era to the modern society and how to enter the post-industrial or post-modern era of knowledge economy from the modern industrial society.I.M.Pei regards Modernism architecture as an "unfinished ideal" and "unfinished undertaking".With more than half a century's unremitting creation,he adheres to the mantle of Modernism architects and regards "harmony between man and nature" and "the doctrine of the mean" as the essence of Oriental wisdom and the unique beauty of neutralization,mildness and poetry.Learning effects are integrated into Modernism architecture.Promote modernism to become the mainstream of official architecture,towards elegance and multi-cultural adaptability.Absorbing the theoretical advantages of linguistics,semiotics and phenomenology,this paper adopts formal analysis method,combs the spiritual genealogy,formal characteristics and development stages of Modernism architecture from the perspective of aesthetic modernity,and conducts a comprehensive and in-depth aesthetic investigation of Pei's creative career of more than half a century from the aspects of extension and connotation.At the intersection of the overall development framework of Modernism architecture and the modern transformation of Chinese and Western architectural culture,this paper reveals the Chinese wisdom of Pei's contribution to the aesthetics of Modernism architecture and the Enlightenment of the development of Chinese architectural modernization,and expands the breadth and depth of Pei's research on architectural aesthetics with new perspectives and strategies.The framework of the paper is as follows:Introduction:This paper mainly introduces the origin and significance of the research,analyses the current research situation and research trends at home and abroad,and then clarifies the research objectives,methods and framework of the paper.I.M.Pei,an American architect of Chinese origin who embodies the spirit of dual cultures between East and West,is a world-class Modernism master,known as the "master of modernism" and "the last master of modernism".However,due to the prejudice of culture and identity,there is a lack of comprehensive and indepth study of its architectural aesthetics at home and abroad.On the basis of the analysis of current architectural research trends,the formal analysis method of drawing lessons from the study of art history is determined,which adheres to the unity of logic and history,the corresponding comparison of literature and case analysis,field investigation and cross-cultural comparison,and through subtle vertical division.Through analysis and horizontal comparison,I.M.Pei is accurately positioned in the overall development framework of Modernism architecture and the convergence point of Chinese and Western architectural culture,which is the modern transformation of Chinese architecture,to reveal the inspiration of I.M.Pei's contribution to the aesthetics of Modernism architecture and the development of Chinese architectural modernization.Chapter 1:The Origin and Characteristics of Modernism Architectural Aesthetics:From the perspective of aesthetic modernity,this paper comprehensively combs the spiritual genealogy,form characteristics,development stages and representative figures of Modernism architecture.Through in-depth comparison with neoclassicism and post-modernism,this paper summarizes and refines the basic characteristics of modernism architectural aesthetics.Modernism architecture criticizes classical principles with functional principles,abandoning the traditional norms and precedents between columns and details.Refusing to decorate,the authenticity and simplicity of the structure and materials are highly praised by Puritans.The transparency of glass indicates that the building skin has got rid of the formal rule of loadbearing function and gravity dominance,broken the heavy,closed and dim state of classical masonry buildings,changed the situation of the sharp separation between internal and external space,and implied the social transparency of democratic politics,which has a special role in promoting social and spiritual change.The modern spatial relationship explored by the new vision and construction method of three-dimensional anti-perspective has moved from the closed relationship of various forms of measurement to a more dynamic concept of space.It also compares architecture to "living machine" to say goodbye to traditional architectural handicraft industry and highlight the mechanical aesthetics of industrialization.The lack of culturalconnotation and sense of belonging caused by the independence of modernism architecture from history and nature leads to the overall challenges of post-modernism from unity to difference,from elite to the masses,from function to form,from aesthetics to game.Chapter 2:The Origin of Pei's Architectural Thought.Looking back on the background of Pei's growth,we can restore the origin of his architectural aesthetics thought with lasting elegance and Oriental culture.The combination of government,business and gentry,the prominent family background and the prosperous life of the new financial nobility,fostered his Confucian family ethics and the aesthetic taste and elite consciousness of the aristocratic class,and laid the foundation for his initial understanding of the relationship between the world,life and architecture.In the gardens of Suzhou which condensed the essence of Chinese traditional architecture,Pei formed the original architectural space time view and idealized architectural prototype.Based on the ancient Chinese civilization and deep tradition,Pei draws inspiration from the ideas of harmony between man and nature,Taoism and nature,Confucian ethics,the doctrine of the mean,tolerance and other traditional arts,such as poetry,painting and gardening,and forms a unique concept of architectural essence and aesthetic ideal.Teachers' Inheritance of Modernism Architecture.Deeply analyses the thoughts and creations of Walter Gropius,Mies Van de Rohe,Le Corbusier,Frank Lloyd Wright and Alvar Alto,the first generation of Modernism architects,focusing on Pei.The education and influence of architectural design concepts and techniques bring Pei's outstanding architectural design creation into the overall development framework of Modernism architecture.As the successor of the orthodox Bauhaus,I.M.Pei has inherited and continued the long-term classical tradition of Modernism architecture and its concise,abstract and rational modern spirit,based on the inspiration of Modernism Masters' works,and has become a faithful developer of this tradition.Chapter 3: The Formation and Evolution of Pei's Architectural Thought.I.M.Pei is a practical architect who devotes himself to architectural design without theoretical achievements.His works are rich in types and cover a wide area.This paper makes a comprehensive and indepth aesthetic study of Pei's creative career and 50 works in terms of both extension and connotation.From a microcosmic perspective,the specific intentions,unique scenes,artistic forms and symbolic levels of each case are thoroughly interpreted to fully show its creative process and to sort out the changes in techniques.Pei has always adhered to the design concept of modernism,relying on his intuition and talent as a form creator,he has gradually changed from imitating the first generation of Modernism architects to creating space and establishing personal style.The basic vocabulary of Modernism architecture has dual functions of function and expression in his hands,breaking away from the control of traditional methods and popularmodels,and defining a new architecture for the future.Chapter 4 : The Characteristics of Pei's Modernism Architectural Aesthetics.The deep thought,value idea and expression way behind the space and form of Pei's architectural works are thoroughly examined and refined.From the perspectives of how the form of modernism is accepted,rejected,reached the stage of maturity,and how to subordinate it to different cultural characteristics,this paper expounds the style of the surface language and the spiritual essence of the deep language,the evolution of aesthetic characteristics and value orientation,the logical form and the basic law of its architectural works.The unique artistic techniques,such as ethical value pursuit,harmonious and unified aesthetic ideal,geometric shape,atrium layout,reflecting material nature,sculpture landscape,fine technology and spatial expression of light,make Pei achieve a new balance between individual innovation and technological conventions,form expression and internal unity,spirit of the times and cultural tradition,with Chinese tradition.The unique way of thinking and communication of aesthetics promotes Modernism architecture,presenting the new architectural aesthetic features produced by the blending of Chinese and Western traditions.Chapter 5 : The Position and Function of I.M.Pei in the History of Modernism Architecture.In the overall picture of the development and evolution of Modernism architecture,the author objectively evaluates Pei's position and contribution in the history of the development of Modernism architectural aesthetics.When Modernism architecture enters its own transformation and reconstruction in an all-round way,as a master of the second generation of modernism,I.M.Pei regards Modernism architecture as "an unfinished ideal" and "an unfinished cause".With a series of classical works such as the Kennedy Library,the East Museum of the National Gallery of Art,the Louvre Pyramid in Paris,the German Museum of History and the Museum of Islamic Art,modernism has been widely recognized in history and has become the mainstream of official architecture.By comparing and analyzing the collective demands and personal paths of three great neo-Modernism masters,Louis Kang,Mayer and kenzo Tange,the artistic features of symbolism,technology and poetry in the development of Modernism architecture elegance are highlighted,and the new tradition of Modernism architecture is enriched through the integration of different civilizations,such as Christianity,Chinese civilization and Islam.Adaptability and vitality.Chapter 6:Pei's Exploration and Enlightenment on Modern Transformation of Chinese Architecture.Modernism architecture,as a heterogeneous culture,penetrates into China,leading to the complete disintegration of the traditional Chinese architectural system.It implies the Western-centered and progressive assumptions and seeks a new national identity,which leads toextensive social changes in the technical system,institutional system,educational system and aesthetic concept.In the process of Chinese architectural modernization transformation,the introduction and absorption of Western Modernism architecture is accompanied by the reflection and renewal of Chinese traditional architecture.It is always confused with the struggle between aesthetics and political leadership,national identity,foreign influence and the internal transformation of local architectural culture.Three waves of "classical revival" have appeared successively.In the era of market economy,under the impact of globalization and commercialization logic of utilitarianism,Chinese architecture has entered an active period and has increasingly become a place for global architects to compete and experiment.With the disappearance of history and the absence of architectural aesthetic discourse,Chinese architecture is unique in the process of blindly imitating,transversely transplanting,commercial fawning and dazzling architectural production and image competition.The characteristics and aesthetics are disappearing,replaced by the cold and hard functional space and the embarrassment of one side of a thousand cities.I.M.Pei adheres to the principle of "Chinese and new".Through three fruitful practices in Beijing Xiangshan Hotel,Hong Kong Bank of China Building and Suzhou Museum,with profound expression of Oriental philosophy,great Confucianism and exquisite and elegant individualization,I.M.Pei has devoted himself to exploring a modern road of Chinese architecture and pointing out how Chinese contemporary architecture can become modern and return to its ancient and great tradition.Epilogue:A brief review of Pei's thought and essence of realizing Modernism architecture is of far-reaching significance in the new way of inheritance and interpretation in contemporary times.The future development of Modernism architecture and the integration of China into the World Architecture forest with its unique aesthetic image are prospected.