1. A Trip Around the World Art Appreciation 2014 - 2015 February 2015
China

2. Art Appreciation - A Trip Around the World
5th Stop: CHINA
#4: Russia
Charlotte, NC
Mediterranean
Sea
#3: Mediterranean
#5: China
#2: Africa
#1: Latin America 2

3. Chinese Art Calligraphy
Four Anecdotes, c 1310
Zhao Mengfu
Handscroll, ink on paper
MET, New York
Calligraphy was seen as the highest of all art forms in traditional China
Chinese has no alphabet; instead made up of “characters” that stand for individual syllables or words
Over 50,000 Chinese characters exist; the average literate Chinese person knows around 3,000
The author of this piece was considered to be the most skilled in all of China at the time and highly favored by Chinese Emperor Renzong

4. Chinese Art Calligraphy
Wang Xizhi Watching Geese, c 1295
Qian Xuan
Handscroll; ink, color, and gold on paper
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
When viewing this piece, the Chinese focus mainly on the calligraphy; the colorful painting and the poem expressed by the calligraphy are afterthoughts
This was created by a highly skilled calligrapher in 1295 to honor another calligrapher, Wang Xizhi. Wang was born in 303 AD and is regarded as one of the most talented calligraphers in all of Chinese history
Wang was said to have learned to gracefully move his wrist while writing by observing the neck movements of the geese he raised

5. Chinese Art Modern Calligraphy
Calligraphy continues to be highly valued in China but modern influences can be seen as well
This scroll combines the traditional(calligraphy and the use of only ink and brush) and the modern (horse drawn with quick strokes highlighting areas of light and dark similar to impressionism)
In 1919 Xu Beihong became the first Chinese government-sponsored student to go to Europe to study art
Grazing Horse, 1932
Xu Beihong
Hanging scroll; ink on bark paper
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

6. Chinese Art Sculpture - Buddhism
Buddhists believe that all human existence is suffering, that the cause of suffering is desire, that freedom from suffering is nirvana, which frees a person for the endless cycle of death and rebirth
Buddhism first came to China during the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) and has helped shape Chinese culture ever since
Buddhist statues vary greatly in size and materials used but all pay homage to Buddha (one who has reached nirvana) or Bodhisattva (one who is able to reach nirvana but delays doing so to help others)
Buddha, likely Amitabha
Early 7th century (Tang Dynasty)
Dry lacquer with gilt and pigment
Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC
Bodhisattva Manjushri
c (Ming dynasty)
Gilt brass
Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC

7. Chinese Art Sculpture – Terracotta Army
Sculpture has been part of Chinese art tradition for over 5,000 years
This massive collection of sculptures was created for the burial site of Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor of China, to protect him in the afterlife
The site contains over 9,000 individual sculptures including soldiers, chariots & horses
Terracotta Army, Late 3rd Century BC
Approx. 700,000 unknown Chinese workmen
Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor
Lintong District, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China

8. Chinese Art Sculpture – Terracotta Army
The statues were created during the late 3rd century BC – over 1,700 years ago
The site was buried with the emperor and forgotten; it was rediscovered in by farmers drilling a well
The site now hosts over 2 million visitors a year
Note how the faces of these two soldiers differ from each other. Each statue was constructed to be unique

9. Chinese Art Painting
Traditional Chinese painting involves many of the same techniques as calligraphy and is done with a brush dipped in black or colored ink; oil paints are not used
Artists had no desire to depict “changeable” characteristics such as light and shadow; color was often avoided and seen as a distraction
Hanging scrolls such as this one are common with the foreground at the bottom of the scroll while the middle and far distances are at the middle and top respectively
The traditional craft involved in creating a blank hanging scroll is considered an art in itself
Listening to the Wind, c. 1246
Ma Lin
India ink on silk
National Palace Museum, Taipei City, Taiwan

10. Chinese Art Painting
Early Autumn, 13th century
Qian Xuan
Ink and colors on paper
Detroit Institute of Art, Detroit, MI
Landscape painting has always been (and continues to be) the most highly prized type of painting in China
Narcissus, c 1199
Zhao Mengjian
Handscroll; ink on paper
Met Museum, New York

11. Chinese Art Folding Screen (Pingfeng)
Armorial Screen,
Qing dynasty, 1720–1730
Wood, lacquer, gold
Peabody Essex Museum,
Salem, MA
Often beautifully decorated, the folding screen originated in China in the 7th century
Originally created to block cold drafts in homes - Chinese name: píng (屏 "screen; blocking") and feng (風 "breeze, wind")
By the 17th century Europeans were importing screens from China to decorate their homes; a practice that continues worldwide today

12. Chinese Art Folding Screen (Pingfeng)
Modern Chinese Folding Screen
Guimet Museum of Asian Art, Paris

13. Art Appreciation - A Trip Around the World
Next Stop: India
#4: Russia
Charlotte, NC
Mediterranean
Sea
#3: Mediterranean
#5: China
#6: India
#2: Africa
#1: Latin America 13