[The Visual Arts of Asia
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Enter the collection of examples of ASIAN ART. {This is a hyperlink to the Text and
Photographs}
This Delmarva Education Action Learning, special immigration feature, celebrates the arts of
from the East, historically Asians have not been notable travelers; in fact, national borders
have often been closed for fear of foreign invasion. Despite this isolation of her skilled artisans
the beauty of
peoples have greatly enriched the world. Included are paintings, architecture, sculpture,
ceramics, enamels, metal wares, carvings and a few furniture examples. Gifted craftsman of the
East have woven a fascinatingly versatile tapestry of visual delights. *Countries represented are
collecting Asian art is both a serious and profitable pursuit. Creations such as those shown
here have often strongly influenced Western art and taste. It is hoped that these selected
examples will enable American students to enjoy the enduring charm of Asian Art.
However, the photographs and text provided are but a drop of information from a
vast and timeless ocean of creative endeavor.
The first Asians
to arrive in
city of
vastly rich in cultural heritage. In fact,
the world has ever known. The arts of
culture since the days when traders carried their goods along the perilous silk routes to
the mysterious East. It should be noted that, while also different, the visual arts of
Among the many common visual elements are curving graceful roofs that ward off evils
spirits, and the use of red, considered the most propitious of colors, for bridal
gowns and rulers garments. Most popular of images are the great dragons, which signify
royal majesty and power, and are said to appear before important events. Over the
centuries the refinement and beauty of the many creative goods that found their way to the
West were to be held in high regard. The Royal courts and castles of
and dishes crafted in the Orient. Here, in honor of the rich visual culture of
DEAL presents selected examples from the treasures of the ancient
motherlands of the many who emigrated.
Architecture
Today in Asian cities modern western style architecture can frequently be seem
starkly juxtaposed against traditional wood structures. In the Orient, builders have long
relied on timbers to frame structures. Typically they rise to one or more peaks.
Natural stone is employed for terraces and steps. Early Chinese architecture influences a
number of other countries, while other countries have influenced monumental structures in
3rd century (Han dynasty). Religions and religious uses for buildings greatly influenced
Asian art. For Instance, Buddhist influences begin to appear in
Burial Shrine of Hidajetulla Hoja, in Kashgar. This structure, containing the body of the
missionary saint, is built like a Middle Eastern mosque. In countries all over
constructed. The interior space of Asian structures can have great
variation. In
used to support sliding opaque paper screens. These fushema that
divide the inter space can be easily moved create different sized
rooms. These screens sometimes have paintings on their surfaces.
Chinese Tang Dynasty style buildings were built in
greatest territorial expansion. The later Chinese Ming architects are renowned for building
great tombs, and other edifices, with great confidence and style. Some buildings were
encircled by rings of painted support columns, usually of wood. Unfortunately, because
wood was the primary building material, there are fewer examples of traditional
architecture than there are of other works. However, there are still fine examples
that have been preserved. Perhaps to westerners the best known early structure
in the
much of
not one wall, but many walls, with some recent restorations. Considered a must see
marvel, numerous tourists stride along this barrier that once separated
protected that great culture from northern invaders.
Sculpture
Early on in
changes to become active and more naturalistic. Very recently, in the area by the
ancient city of
other personages and horses have been unearthed. This is a most poplar
archeological site which receives thousand of visitors annually. Actual live burial
of humans and animals along with dead nobility ceased in the 6th century.
However, the tradition of elaborate burial continued with carved life sized
replicas. Religions were spread in
journeyed thru the various cultures along the
exchange. Asian silks reached Caesar's
reached
3rd century these were the subject of most Chinese monumental sculpture.
Buddhist influences diminish by the 6th century and the lively animals, and
naturalism, happily again emerge. Monumental sculpture in
of Buddhist inspiration. During the Ming period, Buddhism declined, and painting
and ceramics, rather than sculpture, began to display more vigor and imagination.
Elsewhere in
force. Following the Ming dynasty there is an emphasis on smaller natural carved
forms in stone, jade, ivory and wood. However, these are not considered remarkably
inspired work, and they lack the vitality seen in earlier work in
Copper was discovered
in
quantities. A monumental cast sculpture Buddhist, produced in 753 was the largest
bronze image ever produced. This very large formal work is notably different
than the delicacy of the small statuettes made a century earlier. In earliest Indian
art different forms of metal are used. Art there developed in a slow and
deliberate manner. When speaking of Indian sculptural art, it is important to know
that an artist needed to be experienced in working with eight different materials.
In Indian art there are many representations of the Hindu trinity, Brahma, Vishnu
and Siva. Brahma created the entire Universe, whereas Vishnu preserves it and Siva
destroys. Brahma is often revealed with four heads. Vishnu is often depicted
sleeping. However, he reincarnates and can be seen as holy personages, such as
in
thought and practice. As in
is an important force in
Painting
In the
3000 B.C. The Han dynasty (206B.C.- A.D. 220) marks an era when
Chinese painting turns increasingly towards images of man rather than the earlier
emphasis on animal images. Art was patronized by the aristocracy. Consequently
the art depicts court figures and activities. Later Sun and Tang dynasties brought
new grandeur to the arts, but always regard for authority and family are continuity
themes, with nature in a harmonious relationship to human life. These artistic productions
are transported and sold well beyond the
brushed written characters, which like Egyptian hieroglyphs, are derived from stylized
drawings.
Landscape
painting has been very popular in
Ku K'ai-chich a painter who worked in the 4th century. There have been conventions
for painting in
For instance, Mountains are generally shown as large and rising to sharp peaks. Thus,
they often look like the striking older worn peaks found in an area known as
artist does not show one point perspective as vanishing at the horizon as European artists
do. Mists are also present near water, which tends to flow about land forms
as in the example you can view here. It is beyond the scope of this brief introduction
to try to list the important periods and painters, However, keep in mind that landscape
painting was of importance in
are seen as deeply related to each other. This relationship is an important focus of
numerous renderings. Other popular images in Chinese painting are those of birds
and flowers, and paintings that only depict groupings of bamboo.
The Indian
painters of central
manuscripts. Painting in
However, there are also romantic depictions in Indian art. Interestingly, it is the female
that is shown as lover while it is the male who is the beloved. Besides religion and
romance, there are also scenes drawn from mythology as well as from everyday life
that gracefully enliven Indian art. Their art tells stories of both romantic and religious
devotion.
knowledge, as well as pilgrims, from country to country.
Most of the art of
features of the classic Chinese Tang dynasty works were combined with those of sensuous
Indian forms. The result of this combining was the Japanese Jogan style, which is considered
unique to
began in
Wood blocks are frequently used to make colorful painterly images. Woodcut paintings
are by no means limited to
there are quite remarkable. Another graphic form in which
is silk screen printing, where a blocking substance is used. This newer technique
was developed following hundreds of years of cut stencil applications to produce prints.
There are wonderful surviving Japanese and Chinese scroll paintings that tell historical tales.
An example is this one of the making of Portuguese-style well canons by Yamazaki
Tomoo, in 1851, http://www.rom.on.ca/neac/scroll.html A renowned Japanese artist known
for his masterful woodcuts is Hokusai, well known for the Great Wave. Prolific and
versatile, Hokusai is known for his many landscapes and amusing figure sketches.
Following WW II most painting in
remember that while there were many outside influences on
there were always artists of importance in every era, who were uniquely skilled.
Ceramics
The Chinese
were the first to develop fine porcelain ceramics. In
early, during the Neolithic period with red earthenware and strong gray high-fired clays.
Glaze was apparently used in ceremonial pieces and not found again until the Han period. In
the west, there are no rivals to
glazes were popular in several early dynasties. A high period for ceramics from
the dynastic period from the 10th to the 13th century. Collectors also value highly work
from the Tang dynasty, known for curving figures and colorful horses. White ceramic ware
was popular with traders
from the
In the 14th century cobalt blue pigments originating from
white pottery. Chinese blue and white pottery became a very popular import item in the
West, even to Colonial America. Japanese artisans learned their craft from the Chinese,
whose skills at porcelain making none unsurpassed. Later, Dutch ships took large
quantities to
and drawings of this time made their way to
However, at times
Chinese were the first to cast large bronze vessels. Later on the Chinese were also the
first to produce fine quality porcelain.
Having made all of the above observations, it seems rather easy to understand why
the arts of
of both
and west. In other cases, one must be aware of the ebb and flow of religious
developments, and the history of military conquest to understand how artistic ideas
have spread from country to country. Materials for artist's works of all types are
in many ways also similar and related. Jade, for instance, has been considered the
stone of Heaven in
carved and highly treasured. Indeed, over all of
and remarkable beauty abound. To view but a few selected but notable examples.
We often think of trade in goods, such as tea, spices, and muskets as being highly
important in East meeting West. While this is true, it
is the art of
sought and truly admired by Europeans. The trade of artistic products, particularly
Ceramic wares, helped to open the
no rivals to
period (1368-1644) use many new methods of production. China's excellence
in producing fine porcelain was unsurpassed. For centuries
artisans produced marvelous creations that were widely admired. At first traders from
the
goods would reach
traded with the West. Eventually, European nations would try to imitate both the quality
and patterns of these wonderful goods. Eventually ships from far away
interaction and knowledge of events therein. Civil war and the downfall of the
aristocracy in the Orient gave peasants land of their own. However, with land came
taxes, and as families grew, parents could not afford to give all their children land.
Thus, as in
this new land of opportunity that became known in
Look at and compare the selected examples of Asian Art presented on this
website. Notice the similarities and differences. See what historical information you
can glean as you observe the pictorial stories that are told on these legendary works of
Asian Art.
*For those who are interested in more examples
from more countries of
Korean, and Thai art work. http://www.crowcollection.org/site/PageServer#
Enter the collection of examples of ASIAN ART. {This is a hyperlink to the Text and
Photographs}
