Explore The Formal Language In Modern Still Life Oil Painting

Taking the oil painting artists Morandi and Arikha,this paper explores contemporary formal language of painting based on Chinese moderation and the Tao of painting,combined with their creation of still life painting.The common painting spirit of Morandi and Arikha can be understood and analyzed from their attitudes,aesthetic orientation,historical background,artistic conception and logic in painting creation,so as to interpret the common characteristics in moderation.Combined with the author's painting practice and experience,an exploration of “Tao” will be presented although it cannot be seen or touched in contemporary language of still life oil painting.Artistic creation of a painter is itself a process that is full of contradiction,sophistication and dialectics.On one hand,a painter relies on the target object.Whether it is with abstract or concrete painting method,a painter has to refer to the appearance,color,space,texture and perspective of the described objects,which deserve detailed observation and analysis and are the outer shape employed when a painter expresses his thoughts or spirit.On the other hand,a painter has to keep away from some inherent attributes of the objects so as not to be so lifelike.Even a figurative painting artist seeks unlikeness and change from likeness.The purposeful deviation in the color,texture,shape and spatial perspective is just the living essence of a painting.Art creation can neither drift away from objects nor be bounded by the inherent attributes.Morandi and Arikha,both of whom emphasize concretization in painting,propose figurative representation of objects.Without purpose in a painting and blind pursuit of change and novelty,they aim to give the most natural flow of temperament and emotion through describing the exact appearance of objects.Both Morandi and Arikha insist the combination of objects and creators.Though they take different approaches to their paintings,both relate personal thoughts to objective objects and convey formal language of pictures through unique creative technique and personal charm.