Between Reality And Virtual

The issue of the relation between representational virtual space and surface of media has always been the original proposition in Western art.But due to the slow and implicit development characteristics of space and the unique quality of empty space on surface of media in Chinese paintings,there are seldom researches on the issue of space and surface in Chinese paintings.John Hay,an American scholar,made a groundbreaking study of this issue in his article “Surface and the Chinese Painter: The discovery of Surface” published in 1985,paved the way for the discussion of pictorial space and surface of media in China.Unfortunately,the understanding of John Hay and his publications in China is very little.Therefore,to study his thought and to translate his articles have profound practical significance and guiding value.This thesis includes two parts,the study part and the translation part.The study part will make reviews and interpretations of all kinds of important works of John Hay,try to understand and expound the significant but elusive key points proposed in “Surface and the Chinese Painter” by analyzing his thought gradually formed in important articles.Then I will systematically summarize the discussions of the issue of space and surface in Western and Chinese art,attempting to define “Surface and the Chinese Painter” in a broad academic vision.The translation part includes the Chinese translation and my exegesis of the article.