Chines Landscapes

Chinese painting is usually shun out of contemporary art.There is no obvious relevance between these two.Is it possible to reach a reconciliation?In the writings of the Chinese contemporary art history,we see the separation in the narration of the improvement of traditional Chinese art and the localization of the western art in China since 20th century.Is it possible to use the same logic to narrate these two artistic languages?Artists at different ages of different styles like to use water and mountain as their topic.So what are the reasons behind?What are new opportunities for developing water and mountain culture nowadays?French scholar Francois Jullien researched into Chinese wa-ter and mountain culture and he hopes to improve the western landscape with Chinese approaches.Is the traditional spirit of water and mountain culture still effective in modern times?To tackle the above mentioned questions,based on the considerations including brushwork tech-niques,creation medium,and final presentation forms,this thesis focuses on mountain and water/landscape topic and finds that the contemporary development of Chinese ink and wash art is divided into the following three categories:a conventional approach that strives for innovation within the inherited tradition,a modern approach that explores reform and change from the perspective of modern western art,and a contemporary approach that uses less constrained and more diversified media and means of expression.These three modes demonstrate the shift logic and development path from traditional Chinese painting—ink and wash painting—to ink and wash art,and show the international vision,contemporary experience,Chinese philosophical approach and other fea-tures in the artistic creation of Chinese ink and wash art.The Chapter One“The Introduction Part”mentions the concept and origin of“The End of Brush-work Techniques”,“Chinese Landscapes”and the trichotomy of Chinese contemporary water ink art.The Chapter Two“The Expression of Chinese Cultural ldentity" analyzes the ideas and atti-tudes that artists from three categories adopt towards Chinese and western culture when they face the upsurge of western contemporary art.The Chapter Three“The Longing for An Ideal Place to Live”is exemplified by the detailed analysis of many artworks.Artists from three categories enrich the landscape of ancient mountain and water topic in painting through their own explorations and creative expressions:mountain and water with natural,peaceful and relaxed style,abstract land-scape providing an empathic feeling and diversified contemporary landscapes.The Chapter Four“The Inheritance and Development of Tradition”classifies the transformational and creative ap-proaches that artists make upon Chinese traditions.The Chapter Five“What Is Chinese Contempo-rary Art" analyzes the concepts of contemporary and contemporary art.It re-examines the Chinese water and mountain painting traditions and redefines the concept and sense of Chinese contempo-rary art.The Chapter Six“Conclusion" makes a summary and looks into the future.Each chapter starts with the classification and analysis of the questions and theories that art involves with and ends with a conclusion.This thesis tries to incorporate the two different artistic languages-the improvement of traditional art and the localization of western art in China,into a descriptive logic,making them an organic whole rather than parallel lines which lack connection.Hopefully the discussion will help us reflect on questions including what is contemporary,what is contemporary art and what is Chinese con-temporary art.It will reconsider and redefine the concept of Chinese contemporary art and its mean-ing in the new context,the relations between contemporary and tradition,inheritance and innova-tion.It will also increase our confidence in Chinese painting and encourage greater exploration of the Chinese artistic vernacular and philosophy in contemporary art.This thesis is based on my curating and museum management experience,and my observation and analysis of Chinese contemporary art creation over the years.I have made an in-depth research and analysis on artists and their works,and read many works of modern and contemporary art theories.Following considerable reflection,I have sorted out the development path,threads and patterns be-hind Chinese contemporary art,come up with the theories "the End of Brushwork Techniques","Chinese Landscapes" and categorize three forms of contemporary development of Chinese ink and wash art.