detail from: KRK Art dizajn

ART RECOGNITION (1)

SIMO JELAČA, Ph.D.

CHINESE ART

Chinese art is one of the oldest in the world. The first discoveries of art objects originate from the area in the Yellow River basin, where terracotta objects were discovered, during the reign of the first dynasties of China (1650-1027 BC). Bronze vessels with images of monsters, which were intended to drive away evil spirits, as well as jade objects, of magical and religious significance, were created after the emergence of terracotta. Human figures were created during the Han dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD). The first human figures were figures of rulers, court ladies and aristocracy. From the Tang dynasty (618-907) the figures of emperors, dignitaries, parents, children and nature begin. The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) raised China's prestige, when white ceramic vessels were painted cobalt blue. The last Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) was also marked by the production of ceramic objects and the widely famous porcelain. The Great Wall of China with its eight watchtowers is the most famous object in all of Chinese architecture. It was begun in the third millennium (BC), and was extended until the present century, reaching a length of about 6500 km.

Architecture

In the 12th century, the Chinese wrote in rows, from top to bottom, and from right to left, and their script did not change significantly. Architecture is not sufficiently preserved, since building materials were short-lived, so wood was mainly used. Family houses were often fenced, and the Chinese grew flowers in their yards. The foundations of the buildings were circular, and the walls were made of rammed earth. Their tombs faced south. Later, stone was used for construction, and then concrete. Chinese pagodas are famous. With the advent of Buddhism, temples occupied a central place in construction. One of the famous buildings is the Great Wild Goose in Xi'an, 60 m high. During the Ming Dynasty, numerous characteristic Chinese buildings were built. Streets in cities were built in a north-south direction. The tombs of rulers occupied huge complexes. The largest are the tombs of the Ming and Qing dynasties in Beijing. The Summer Palace near Beijing is also famous. Among the more famous Chinese buildings are the Great Wall of China; the Forbidden City; the Great Chinese Goose Pagoda; and the Summer Palace. Chinese twisted roofs, which protect the walls from rain, and double roofs, symbolic of the entrances to imperial tombs, are characteristic.

Sculpture

Sculpture is very important in China. Research dates back to the 12th century (BC), when marble sculptures of animals and human figures were found. Wooden figures from the 4th to 3rd centuries (BC) have also been found. During the Han dynasty, figures made of baked clay were found. Sculptural works were mainly found in tombs. Often the motifs are carved in stone, and they are mainly figures of Buddhist culture. China has numerous monasteries in caves, with statues of Buddha carved in stone. These are Chinese shrines. A striking example is the sculpture Lohani (Buddha's Disciples). Chinese sculpture survived during the Ming and Qing dynasties in statues made of jade, turquoise, ivory and wood.

Painting

The first traces of Chinese painting are seen on terracotta objects, created by painting with a colored brush. The most common colors are red and black. Calligraphy, similar to Egyptian hieroglyphs, also developed in parallel. The first Chinese painting is the so-called "figurative painting", in which characters are depicted one after another, which creates depth. Rich clothing in the paintings reveals the social status of the person. Paintings of landscapes and court ladies were cherished in China. Flowers were widely painted. Among the more famous painters, Chao Meng Fu (1254-1322) is mentioned, who enjoyed painting horses. He is also known as a calligrapher for his landscapes. In China, there are unsurpassed paintings of flowers and birds. The Sung painters (12th century) and Mu Chi (13th century) were prominent here. Fans were often painted.

Applied arts

With the advent of the Shang dynasty (third millennium BC), decoration gained an important place in people's lives. Painting flowers and animals on vases was influenced by the steppe peoples who often invaded China. The Buddhists had a much stricter influence. Glazes were applied over the paintings on the dishes. This was the time when porcelain began to be produced from a mixture of clay and kaolin with other minerals, which was fired at high temperatures. It was then coated, painted or embossed. Glazing reached the Tang dynasty. The basic colors of this period were ocher-yellow, green and blue. The painting of small cups is also considered a masterpiece. During the Yuan dynasty, the firing technique was improved. Plates with floral decorations, from the Wan Li period (1573-1620) are beautiful examples of white and blue porcelain. This is a classic art from the Song period. Porcelain objects were mainly pink, green and black. They amaze with the quality of the material and drawings. Jade works are also known throughout the world, they are real pearls of art. Jade, which the Chinese import from Turkmenistan, is a very hard stone, green in color, from delicate to dark shades, is considered a luxury item and is very expensive. In China, cups, vases and boxes are also made from Rhus wood, which is highly valued, has a solid and smooth structure. Recently, it has been exported to the West in large quantities.

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