Re-understanding Of Gu Yuzhi's "Shaping God" Theory In The Context Of Contemporary Art

During the 1980s,Chinese society went into the modern transformation,culture pattern rapidly changed.Post-Modernism spread all over the world,and had a great influence.Chinese contemporary painting language always accompanied with revolution.Below the circumstances of losing touch with the West for decades,Chinese new art movement tried to catch them up,its radicalness was close to Europe and America,the universality,power and strength of shock happened in Chinese traditional painting were unprecedented.Traditional art,modern art and post-modern art were compatible and inseparable.This cultural variation inevitably occurred in contemporary painting,and because of this Chinese contemporary figure painting in the multiple frame,non frame factor such as shadow copy,film,photography,installation,composition,collage,engraving,Solid material combination,action and concept were numerous and diverse,even tried by every means to expand.New concept,new style,new doctrine were all the rage that year,the ontological meaning of painting had been utterly disregard.The old question of"what is art" was hotly discussed again.For the moment,the stream of Post-Modernism still has a profound,comprehensive and subtle influence on Chinese contemporary figure painting.The development of the national painting hesitates at the crossroads,no decision can be reached,now we badly need to analysis and thinking of the problem,in order to set the record straight.Although the Chinese painting was misguided by modern concept of art,ups and downs for a long time,but never disappear.Modern art forms high pressure on traditional painting,although the pressure can also be converted into power,stimulates painting to innovate,and produces a new vitality.From 1980s,painting showed the trace of reviving in Europe and the United States,people pay attention to the change of pure painting in the post-modern context,there can be no argument that contemporary painting needs to have contemporary ideas and critical concepts,but this idea needs to be expressed by the excellent craftsmanship.The inherit of basic skills of Chinese figure painting has not been interrupted,when pure painting returns,Chinese figure painting is confronted with opportunities.Although the current creation of portrait painting is in a situation of "lets a hundred flowers blossom,lets a hundred schools contend",talking about the development direction of portrait painting,people are unable to agree on which is right.Many artists are keen on the pursuit of texture effects,despise the form and spirit,the performance of pen and ink is weak.The reviewing of Gu Kaizhi's Form and Spirit Theory is of great significance in the context of the current art.Gu Kaizhi was the founder and builder of the theoretical system of Chinese painting,He put forward Form and Spirit Theory clearly for the first time in the history of painting system,and also practice in the field of painting,formed Far-reaching theory like Lifelike Portrait,Writing God with form,combining form and sp:irit.Gu Kaizhi's Form and Spirit Theory is one of the richest nationality characteristic theory in the Chinese aesthetic system,extensively concerns with a series of important aesthetic problems,for instance,intentional construction of painting,creation method,the realm of works,the principle of appreciation.His theory inspired the introspection,consciousness and self-discipline of Chinese painting,laid the highest standard of character painting criticism,standardized the development path of figure painting,promoted the prosperity of the figure painting.The emergence of Xie He's Six Principles in Painting,the pursuit for the form and spirit of traditional painting in thousands of years,all originated from Gu Kaizhi's theory.Chinese painting is the product of Chinese culture.Traditional Form and Spirit Theory is quite different from Western modeling concept.Gu Kaizhi's Form and Spirit Theory embodies a special way of understanding and grasping the world of traditional Chinese painting,has unique mellow character of Chinese culture,has advantages which lacks in Western painting.How to understand the tradition,how to learn the traditional,are ever new topics.