The Formation And Characteristics Of Hua Tianyou’s Sculptures

Hua Tianyou, as the first ones going abroad to learn western sculpture, is called one of the pioneers and founders of Chinese modern sculpture. Before going abroad, Hua Tianyou has an experience of repairing Buddist Arhat sculptures of Baosheng Temple, Jiangsu Provence. This experience have an great impact on the formation of his later sculptures’ style. In the process of repair, Hua Tianyou had a profound study and understanding of "Six Standards", and sublimation of the understanding of the " Six Standards ". Hua Tianyou is an artist with considerable ethnic pride, during his study in France, he did not abandon the traditional Chinese art theory, instead he remove the traditional painting theory to the diversion of the technique of sculpture. During his study Hua Tianyou really had a hard time, but this can’t stop him from chasing the true meaning of art. His study is not only limited to the sculpture studio in Paris State University, but also the art galleries and museums in Paris. which has the greatest impact is the Rodin museum. Rodin is represented as the third peak of the Western sculpture history. Through hundreds of times visit, Hua Tianyou found thar there was a connection between Rodin’s sculptures and the "Six principles". Hua Tianyou’s sculptures merging Chinese and western, ancient and modern, then form his own unique sculpture language with strongly national characteristics in it. Many philosophers believe that works of art should be emotional overspilled, experienced a hard life, the turbulent political situation, Hua Tianyou shaped his sculptures with emotion, making his works very appeal and vitality. In the 1930s, the realistic sculpture is the mainstream of China’s modern sculpture, Hua Tianyou’s works are also appeared by realistic manifestation. "Bombing", "The farmer" are signs of the maturity of the Hua Tianyou’s sculpture art language. During his study in France Hua Tianyou has received numerous awards in art salon, and many works are collected by foreign collectors. Among them "Bombing" was bought by French Ministry of education government, and was displaied in the Museum of Modern Art in Paris. As the first Chinese who was written in the French edition of the Encyclopedia of world Art, his art received international affirmation, and through his works with national character, he the opened a window to let the world knew the development of Chinese modern sculpture. Hua Tinayou became a professor in the National School, fine arts department. In his class he had no reservation, taught all his sculpture principles based on his art life experience. His classes had a great influence on his students. Hua Tianyou is not only a Chinese sculptor, who promoted Chinese Modern sculpture to the international arena, is also an outstanding art educator. He occupies an important position in the history of Chinese Modern sculpture, and has been compared with Xu Beihong by Fan Dian. Hua Tianyou is low-key and modest, Qian Shaowu called him as a master who did not claiming to be the "master". But this does not mean that he should be forgotten. His sculpture works still has important significance until today. When appreciating his work, we should not only use rational interpretation but also emotional thinking, only by this means can we had an inner talk with his works. His vivid sculpture technique principles, not only made his generations of students benefit, still have important learning significance today.