Landscape art in Chinese traditional painting - Assignment Example

Running head: CHINESE TRADITIONAL ARTS Progress of Chinese Arts in Sydney Opera House Number: Date Due: Journal 1: Introduction A brief History of the Chinese Paintings Quite a lot of people have for long considered landscape as the most common form of Chinese painting. The Great age of period 907 to 1127 commonly referred to as the five dynasties period saw the rise of some notable characters such as Jing Hao, Fan Kuan, and Guo Xi used to paint landscape pictures using black lines, ink wash, and sharp dotted brushstrokes that was an indication of rough stone. Other artist characters used to paint the rolling hills, and rivers of their native country side that was a demonstration of peace through use of soft, rubbed brushwork. These forms of paintings by the above artists became common styles of Chinese landscape painting. Another period that was referred to as the Tang Dynasty experienced many landscape paintings. These kinds of paintings were mainly done on mountains. This kind of painting had a style that was called the shuimohua whose main intention was to represent the emotion or the look of the atmosphere that indicated the nature’s “rhythm”. As time went by towards the end of the Tang dynasty the use of landscape painting slowly started changing and it was now viewed as a way in men would communicate with the world through the paintings. Apart from nature, these paintings also conveyed a number of themes in social, philosophical, or political areas. Thus with the closure of the Tang dynasty period more focus of these paintings and the artists were majorly on the world nature. Poets and painters in the Chinese traditional arts would go into the mountains to find something to represent in their drawings. Another period called the Song Dynasty that happened between 960 and 1267 saw the rise of different expression of landscapes. Long distances would be represented by use of blurred outlines, mountain contours represented as disappearing into the mist, and nature would be treated with certain kind of impression. The concern of the artist was on how to represent the peace in human beings and nature. This is eminent in the Taoist and Buddhist concepts. In the early Song Dynasty the artists would represent their disappointments in life through drawings. This saw the rise of poetry such as calligraphy, and other forms of calligraphy that employed the brushwork. The images of old trees, bamboo, and rocks were a clear representation of the peoples’ spirit and their character (Li, and Yeo 2007). References Li X. & Yeo K. (2007). Chinese Conception of Space. Online Journal. Beijing, China Architecture & Building Press, 2007 Journal 2: Characteristics and Difference of the Chinese style with the Western Arts Unlike the western arts the Chinese painting has noticeable characteristics. The Chinese painting does not put much emphasis on one-point perspective and other deviations as noticed in colors and light on objects. This form of painting is more of expressions. This form of artistic expression can be categorized into: Elaborate form of painting, liberal painting, and elaborate-liberal painting. The elaborate painting style uses the painting brush to describe an object through drawing (Cattersall 2002) Consequently, the liberal painting style uses a stroke and an ink to describe an object’s appearance and spirit and represent the painter’s intention or expression. While the elaborate-liberal style of painting takes into account the two techniques used in elaborate and liberal painting. Therefore the use of sticks and ink in painting clearly describes the Chinese traditional form of painting. The strokes of stick can be thick and thin, swift or slow, turned around, square or round to represent the flexible nature of objects. Chinese painting uses colors mostly in kits drawings and range from natural mineral materials to the animal shell. The difference between Chinese traditional arts and Western culture therefore can be makes her culture differ with the Western one. Since the Chinese culture is old it has made the Chinese people develop their own music, musical instruments, the painting techniques, their traditional medicine, and cooking methods that are more different and have their style unlike the Western culture in comparison. The Chinese people believe in eating that makes them healthier. However, the Western culture is affected by technology and it is more advanced and it is full of adventure and exploration (Kim 2011). Since the culture of the Chinese people is for the whole community, they thus believe in communal gain rather than individualism through making right decisions that do not affect the society in the negative way. However, Westerners have found the Chinese culture more difficult to understand as this form of culture has their own values, background and their own belief. The Chinese are also friendly to anybody including strangers unlike the Westerners who would never welcome a stranger. The Chinese culture calls for a modest way of living unlike the Western culture that is expensive, wealthy and love luxury. Moreover, the Chinese culture portrays morality to avoid any form of public display through drawings. But the Western culture is free and anyone can do as they like. In conclusion the Chinese culture value relationships more than the Westerners (Cattersall 2002). References Cattersall, J. S. (2002). The Arts and the transfer of learning, Critical Links: Learning in the Arts Academic and Social Development. Journal by R. J. Deasy. Washington DC: Arts Education, 122 (9), 80. Kim, D. (2011). The Chinese Traditional Paintings. Chinese Journal of Paintings, Chinese Architectural Publishers, 2011. Journal 3: Interior Design Phase The Sydney Opera House is being renovated to target the young population. In the original setting it was based in the modern architecture that does not take care of the young population’s talent. Moreover, it is being redesigned to create a platform where all great artists from around the globe can perform. The present architectural design of the Sydney Opera House has the hollow, plywood pipes that are used as the ceiling. However, the Chinese architectural interior design has several characters that at promoting the young talent through attraction. The use of the wooden structural frame that has pillars and a beam is common in these buildings that are made using the Chinese design. The use of wood brings about buildings that have a large and a depth interior that implies the building would hold a large volume of audiences, there should be a technique on how to apply the color on the wood so that it would be preserved (Catersall 2002). Most of the investors would love to invest in a project that would not need more funds for maintenance and the use of these Chinese characteristics would serve for the better. Moreover, having the building based on a platform that would prevent from damage of moisture implies that the building stands for a long time without any damage. Steel frames have been included to make the building stronger (Kim, 2011). References Cattersall, J. S. (2002). The Arts and the transfer of learning, Critical Links: Learning in the Arts Academic and Social Development. Journal by R. J. Deasy. Washington DC: Arts Education, 122 (9), 80. Kim, D. (2011). The Chinese Traditional Paintings. Chinese Journal of Paintings, Chinese Architectural Publishers, 2011. Journal 4: Color Implementation phase The Chinese architectural designs propose to use of a range of colors that symbolizes a certain event, culture or surrounding and would moreover have the aesthetic importance. This range of colors are now in the implementation process and are serving as the new architectural design. This would include paintings of different creatures such as pictures, flowers, landscapes. These features help to attract the attention of children that would be the main audience (Laurence, 1989). The building is being incorporated to contain the new colors. The look has impressed children especially something to do with nice colors that appease the eyes. Even with the adults, they know that color is a symbol for many things that include their culture that all have the right to protect. The natural colors on the outside part that would reflect on the surrounding very well. The use of concrete, granite, and ceramics would be a show of the landscape that is so beautiful. Different colors give the view or the audience a nice impression about the building (Li, & Yeo 2007). It is important to get the attention of the outside people would in the end turn to be potential customers. Moreover, having different colors on a building give a richer surface that impresses a child than if the building is left with just a single color that is uniform. Varied colors give a more feeling of being comfortable in a place of performance. In addition, colors give the audience a festive mood that is not common in the real life. Therefore getting to differentiate between the daily life and the arts of performance are important to getting more clients especially the children (Marc, 1998). References Li X. & Yeo K. (2007). Chinese Conception of Space. Online Journal. Beijing, China Architecture & Building Press, 2007 Marc, T. (1998). Redesigning Sydney Opera House. Library Journal, New York: The Museum of Modern Art, 1998. Journal 5: Exterior Design Phase The exterior design should be implemented to represent the culture of the people including their cultural activities. Inclusion of the wood that usually is a show of the moral values and ethics of the people would go hand in hand in representing the moral values and preserve the culture of the community (Elias 1967). There has been a number of changes to the external look of the Sydney Opera House as opposed to the Utzon design initial designing of the house. The external design is made to attract the audience as well as the representation of the culture of the people. This design is a reflection of what the Chinese were often used to doing that was intended to reflect on the culture of their early communities. In this design phase, people are able to be given histories of the past cultures and the early people of a given group through the arts (Costantoura 2001). The use of pillars in the external design, the fore court refurbishment which is in line with the Chinese design that is a show of what used to happen in the past. Moreover, this is a show of the continuation of the early cultures in today’s world. This design is in the process of completion (Cattersall 2002). References Cattersall, J. S. (2002). The Arts and the transfer of learning, Critical Links: Learning in the Arts Academic and Social Development. Journal by R. J. Deasy. Washington DC: Arts Education, 122 (9), 80. Costantoura, P. (2001). Australians and the arts. Annandale. Library Journal, the Federation Press, 133 (4), 12. Elias, D. (1967). Utzon and the Sydney Opera House. An online Book, Morgan Publications: Sydney Australia, 1967. Journal 6: Evidence of Chinese Arts on the Culture of the Sydney Opera House The Chinese culture is one of the oldest cultures that has been represented by the Chinese architectures. These architectures have affected most of the modern architectures since the Chinese architecture has a way to represent the culture of the given people. The Chinese architecture is usually based on the principles of balance and symmetry. By this it implies that the architecture involves the designing of a house by joining of rectangular shapes that differ in size to form the building (Ulsen 2008). The use of the wood in the building as the building material implies the life of the Australian people. Thus the culture of any community would go hand in hand in developing the life of the inhabitants in various ways. The interior spaces in the Sydney Opera house would be an indication of the social values and ethics of the Australian people. The development of the Opera was mainly for younger children that can easily be able to act, demonstrate their artistic talents and the use of letters (Murray, 2001). Clearly, the target group demonstrates the need of preserving of the value systems of the community, the traditional values, beliefs, knowledge and knowhow of the people. Child are the future leaders of tomorrow and in having them to understand the moral values of the community then the fight to retain the community traditions would be won. The issue of communication to the younger generation about culture has been a major concern to most of the world states (Neill, 2006). Just like for civilization, the cultural development of any community is attributed to various influences such as the mass media, education, the family system, the motivation from various community leaders, and the economic growth external influenced those cultures. Therefore the Sydney Opera House is an evidence that these factors will be addressed by the younger generation and they will grow up knowing what is expected of them. Entering an Opera House one need a change of their usual experiences and this is only cultivated through the varied colors (Pu 2011) References Ulsen, J. (2008). Sydney Opera House Designing. Chinese Journal, Beijing, China Architecture & Building Press, 2008 Murray, P. (2001). The Saga of the Sydney Opera House. Online Journal, New York: Taylor Neill, Megan (2006). The Sydney Opera House. Structural Engineers Association of New York, Vol 11-01, March 2006 32 Pu, M. (2011). In the Absence of Authenticity: An Interpretation of Contemporary Issues in Architecture. Library Journal Structural Engineers Association of New York, Vol 11-01 Joan, B. (1999). The Design of Chinese Landscapes. Library Journal 131 (19), 5  Laurence G. (1989). Chinese Architecture. Chinese Journal, Academy Editions. London, 1989 Journal 7: Arts in Early Childhood Clearly most of the young children love to play with paint, like drawing, and love creating of images through using of play dough that the elderly more often appreciate. Children always get motivated when they are givens the art materials, as this gives them the opportunity for them to draw and exercise their talents. Therefore the adults need to appreciate these kinds of talents of the younger aged people by giving them much supply of the art materials to enable them practice (Brice, 1999). These were the traditions of the Chinese people and it clearly shows that this form of the Chinese practiced culture as they are known for their traditional painting practice and their children would not be left behind thus preserving the traditions and culture of the community. The adults are always made to feel happy and are the main audiences at the time of children’s “art play”. Moreover, the parents who do not feel like practicing the artistic forms due to their age and shyness from the audience feel happy seeing the young people draw, also the psychologists, therapists, and researchers who study artistic development that might be willing to understand the significance of such practices in society create an important audience (Paul, 2004). In order to preserve the Chinese culture, developing such talents was not a difficult task as it would not need much resource to set up classrooms that decorates the children to the arts. Also the importance of such arts such as the development of the creativity among children must have played a role in their use by the Chinese children that farther shows that they were in use and more common among the children (Peter, 2011). The setting up of art centers in most of the parts of China was common that allowed the children to have ample time to play with the art materials farther showed of the children’s engagement in the traditional painting practices. The Chinese educators realized that learning through play was more effective in ensuring that the children grasped some of the concepts in class and in understanding of the cultures of the society. Studies show that the children would draw attention and enjoyed this kind of drawing practices (Rainer, 1993). The establishment of the art play is an indicator of the childrens engagement in the arts. Art plays usually recognizes a child’s creativity and encourages active participation of the children in drawing and it is a form of cultural encouragement. This is the permanent residence of the children that practice art play and it is an important form of contribution to the children that cannot attend school to recognize these talents in drawing (Frampton, 2004). Therefore through the establishment of the art play that gives a variety of programs and it serves the community that includes the parents, careers, teachers and even the teachers show how the community is focused to develop their cultures and encourage active participation in creative writing. Even though some writers would much try to argue that they do not understand how the non school program would contribute to a child’s active engagement in drawing that further contributes to them acquiring skills and knowledge (Ian & Thomas, 2006). However other writers believe that through learning among themselves they are able to acquire the required skills, and develop their talent. Factors such as social relationships among themselves, the learning environment that includes space and the materials they use more affects their involvement in the arts (Joan, 1999). The involvement of children in workshops that enables the child to learn directly from others and creative play, however, some factors that hinder a child from engagement would be caused by the artist that governs and directs the children. This engagement in children in doing traditional arts is seen through their creative thinking, symbolization, imagination, musical composition and storytelling (Juan, 2000). References Brice, S. A. (1999). Imaginative actuality: Learning in the arts during the non-school hours. Journal of Imaginative Approach. Academy Editions - London, 133(9), 57. Juan, B. (2000). The Architectural Design of Sydney Opera House. Library Journal. New York Times: New York, 2000 Ian, L., & Thomas, T., (2006). The Chinese Architects. New York: Rizzoli International Publications, Inc. Paul, V. (2004). A Design Manual: Museum Building. A Book of Birkhauser Publishers for Architecture Peter K. (2011). The History of the Sydney Opera House. Online Journal Engineers: China                                                                                                                                        Frampton, K. (2004). Between Artifice and Nature. The Architects Universe: Louisiana Museum of Art.2003 Rainer, Z. (1993). Traditional Chinese Arts. Journal of the Concerning the Chinese Arts. Published by the New York Times: New York. Journal 8: Media and Techniques in Chinese Traditional Paintings Chinese traditional art was used in the early days however it has brought some effect in the modern form of painting. In recent days one can be able to use both the traditional Chinese paintings with the new media technology to represent and object in 3 dimensions. The Chinese traditional arts had their own way of representing the three-dimensional world through ink and brush on a paper. The traditional method is more of livelier than today’s technology involving three-dimensional animation (Kathy, 2007). Through technology it is now possible to enable audiences to integrate the past and present technology and they can represent an image made in the Chinese traditional format and view it through the three-dimensional world. The traditional style of ink painting has thus been transformed into three-dimensional space, and therefore one can be able to use the cultural elements of traditional ink painting to narrate a story to the audience. Some of the three-dimensional animation technologies include: The three-dimensional animation software called MAYA and the Computer Non-photo-realistic rendering (NPR) technology (Kelly, 1995). References Kathy, M. (2007).  World Heritage honor for Sydney Opera House". Library Journal Independent. Independent News & Media. Kelly, P. (1995). Chinese Architecture. Nordic Journal of Architectural Research, Chinese Architectural Publishers, 1995 Journal 9: Conclusion China’s traditional arts are therefore an important part of their culture and plays a great role as the country’s heritage. The Chinese country has taken into consideration the importance of the traditional arts and has gone farther in promoting the talents of the younger generation. The Chinese traditional arts have evolved with time due to changes in technology and have thus developed some form of uniqueness as compared to other forms of architecture in use. Some forms of arts such as calligraphy, painting, carving, singing, sculpture have been passed with time due to the advanced technology in the Chinese arts. Moreover, these forms of arts have found a number of followers and have gone into absorbing other forms of architecture in the world (Kim, 2011). By using the Chinese traditional form of arts the cultural values of the people are preserved through its various forms of representation. The design of the Sydney Opera House followed the modern way of architecture without representing the moral values and culture of the community. The redesigning of the Opera House and targets the younger generation that are talented and this would force the investors to put their resources into the growth of the Opera and thus promoting the young talent. Reference Kim, D. (2011). The Chinese Traditional Paintings. Chinese Journal of Paintings, Chinese Architectural Publishers, 2011. Read More