Shi Lu's Research On The New Literati Painting Thoughts In Flower And Bird Paintings In The 1970s

The 20th century has witnessed the rise of Chinese innovative painters in terms of their spirits to explore new painting styles and techniques.As a representative figure,Shi Lu,with his great talents and endeavors,had experienced the transformation from a traditional painter to one of the most charismatic and influential artists in the 20th century of China.Shi's artistic achievement was tremendous,but the route to it was full of twists and turns:it had mingled with the ups and downs of Chinese society at that time.It was Shi's firm faith,deep thought,and pioneering spirit that had led him all along the way to the peak of Chinese painting art.The achievement of Shi's artistic thought is considered to be mainly reflected by his flower-and-bird paintings in the 1970s.It was in this time that Shi himself had been suffering from the Chinese Cultural Revolution,while his artistic ideas had been undergoing active development.During this period,Shi had thought a lot about the succession and innovation of the Chinese traditional art spirit.In particularly,Shi had improved the brush-and ink-using skills in traditional Chinese paintings,and finally,had formed his own styles.Shi's flower-and-bird paintings in this time are therefore filled with his thought in art,and especially,his new literati painting concepts.In this thesis,we first review the evolution of Shi's flower-and-bird paintings,concentrated on the comparison of his works in different stages.We subsequently analyze Shi's painting styles together with his brush-and ink-using skills,with the goal to reveal the ideas behind canvas,and especially,the new literati painting concepts.The focus of this thesis lies in the analysis of Shi's new literati painting concepts,which are mostly represented by his flower-and-bird paintings in the 1970s.By a comprehensive analysis of Shi's works in this period,it demonstrates that the new literati painting concepts have a great significance and far-reaching influence on the Chinese contemporary art.As shown in this thesis,Shi's new literati painting concepts reflect his attempts to surpass the shackles from himself,the conventions,and the environment he lived in at the time.The formation of such concepts is traceable:it was since the very beginning when he started the flower-and-bird paintings that Shi had chosen the reforming Chinese traditional art as the direction.The sufferings from the 1970s political movement had just catalyzed the reformation and finally forged the very shape of the concepts.The new literati painting concepts contained in Shi's flower-and-bird paintings in the 1970s have a great influence on the school of Shaanxi Chang-An.And to other Chinese schools in the 20th country,the concepts are also considered inspiring.By analyzing these concepts,we obtain a comprehensive understanding of Shi's spiritual personality and painting styles.It is helpful for us to inherit the merits of the Chinese traditional flower-and-bird paintings,to make innovations by incorporating the elements of our times,and to promote the Chinese artistic spirit continuously.