Chinese Ways of Seeing and Open-Air Painting

Modern Chinese painters saw the landscape differently than premodern Chinese painters, focusing on perception and redefined artistic expertise. Yi Gu's study of the rise of open-air painting in modern China reveals the relationship between artists and the nation-state and offers new insights into art, political change, and the epistemological and sensory regime of twentieth-century China.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 31 July 2020
Publisher: Harvard University, Asia Center

In the realm of modern Chinese painting, the landscape holds a unique significance, reflecting the evolving perspectives of artists in relation to their nation-state. While the artistic perception of modern Chinese painters may share some similarities with their premodern counterparts, it also reveals profound shifts in cultural and artistic ideologies. By examining the rise of open-air painting in modern China, Yi Gu delves into these critical questions, shedding light on the transformative power of artistic expression.

Prior to the late 1910s, Chinese artists rarely ventured outdoors to capture the essence of nature in their artwork. However, the New Culture Movement, a transformative movement that emerged in the late 19th century, sparked a renewed interest in direct observation, linear perspective, and a vision informed by Cartesian optics. This shift marked a significant turning point in the artistic landscape of China, as artists embraced the opportunity to explore the natural world from a fresh perspective.

The pursuit of open-air painting in modern China was driven by a profound urgency to see appropriately as a Chinese and to perceive the Chinese homeland correctly. Artists sought to capture the unique characteristics and beauty of their homeland, striving to convey the essence of Chinese culture and identity through their artwork. This ocular turn, often overlooked in the study of modern Chinese art, offers a valuable lens through which to reflect on the intricate interplay between global and local influences in China.

Gu's examination of this long-overlooked ocular turn provides a novel perspective from which to analyze the complex interactions between the global and local in China. By exploring the ways in which modern Chinese painters approached the landscape, he challenges traditional notions of visual modernity and encourages us to reevaluate the evolving nature of artistic expression in the country.

In conclusion, modern Chinese painters' perception of the landscape reflects the profound shifts in cultural and artistic ideologies that have taken place in China over the past century. Through their exploration of the natural world, artists have sought to convey the essence of their nation-state, while also engaging with the broader global context. Yi Gu's study of the rise of open-air painting in modern China offers a valuable contribution to our understanding of the relationship between artists and the nation-state, and the role of art in shaping political change and the epistemological and sensory regime of twentieth-century China.

Weight: 830g
Dimension: 178 x 253 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780674244450