Fusion And Conversion Between Tradition And Modernity

In the20th century, artists in the history of Chinese painting are wandering in the conflict between theEastern and Western culture, and looking for breakthrough. Among them, San Yu is not a reformer, and isnot the only one who combines Chinese traditional culture with Western modern art forms. San Yu’s ideaabout the fusion and conversion between tradition and modernity is closely related to the whole age, theethnic culture, and the artistic development, but his artistic choices and attitude seems to be out of the entireera. Detached the transformation of San Yu’s artistic thought from the complex background, it can be foundthat he is the distinct incarnation of the ambivalence of early artists in France. The enterprising andsecluded spirit of the Chinese literati’s attitude is particularly prominent in his thought. For the interest ofSan Yu’s ambivalence and his unique artistic experience, as well as his unique painting style, this researchfocuses on San Yu’s artistic thought. The main line steps from the San Yu’s exploration of Western modernart, to the re-examination of the importance of Chinese traditional culture, and finally returning to thetraditional Chinese culture. This thesis interpretes San Yu’s artistic experience and the transition of hispainting style during different period, going deep into his inner world, exploring his artistic ideas andindependent value orientation.The thesis discusses San Yu’s artistic thought from three levels--the formation, the process and themain idea. Firstly, it analyzes the formation of San Yu’s early artistic thought. The experience of Chineseand Western culture makes the foundation which leads him to the combination of tradition and modernity.Then, from San Yu’s artistic choice during the transition period, it explores the ideological context of theintegration and conversion, and gets the conclusion that the fusion between Eastern and Western culture isthe result of "unintentional" consciousness, and is attributed to his complex literati character, his sensitivityof art, and his life experience, which highlights the particularity of his artistic thought. It further analyzesthe transition of San Yu’s psychological process corresponding to his writing style during different periods.It finds out the fusion in the practice of art towards his feelings about the multi-level life, and the otherhand, shows his artistic attitude and unique artistic thought created by the philosophy of life. From theprocess of San Yu’s artistic thought, this thesis attempts to explain the important constructing role of traditional Chinese culture on his artistic thought, by the unseperatedly traditional cultural genes reflectedfrom the fusion and conversion. Then it explores the artistic attitude of "I do not deceive" combined withthe essence of Chinese traditional aesthetics in the traditonal literati philosophy of life, which is the key toachieving the fusion and conversion. As a Chinese artist living in Paris in the early20th century, behindSan Yu’s philosophy of life and ideas, it shows that an artist’s insistence on self-belief is an objective viewof modern Western art as well as a kind of respect for the Chinese traditional culture. Through theinterpretation of San Yu’s artistic thought, it can be recognized that the fusion and conversion betweentradition and modernity is built on the basis of the pursuit of truth of art, and the maintainance of theindependence of thought, and the insistence and abidance of artistic ideal. Combined with his independentand free exploration of spirit, they together constitutes the evidence of "doing for nothing".San Yu’s artistic thought exceeds the mainstream of that era, and today it still reflects the law ofartistic development and value orientation. The redefinition by the contemporary critics on San Yu’simportant role in the history of art, and his insistence on independent spirit in the exploration of art, canbe regarded as a kind of reference, when discussing the significance of revelation of San Yu’s artisticthought.