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A SHORT HISTORY OF ART DURING THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION
Traditional Chinese art has always been a major aspect of Chinese history.
Its original purpose had been to satisfy the aesthetic desires of China's
ruling classes, and the enlightenment of their patrons. Over time, Chinese
artistic methods have remained stable, although the subject of the work
has changed dramatically, as it continues to do so, ever since the 1500's.
The
traditional techniques are still in use today, although have evolved with
the time, methods such as traditional Chinese Wood Cuts, Calligraphy, Prints,
and Water Colours are still widely used. However the themes have undergone
a revolutionary metamorphosis, as Chinese art gains new dimensions through
their exploration of contemporarily social and political themes. The combination
has produced work of outstanding quality and startling originality, as
well as creating the artistic foundation for the growth of a new artistic
movement
in China.
The Twentieth century’s radical transition towards modernism has had
a major impact on Chinese art. Chinese artists simply adapted to embrace modern
political ideology, the resulting artistic creations capturing in fine detail
the struggles and successes of the period, while at the same time idealizing
and criticizing one of the largest social movements of the 20th century. The
result of the art of this period is fascinating and offers great insight into
the machinations of China during this time. Chinese artists were required to
give up their bourgeois pursuit for aesthetics in forms, and rather reflect
a changing political spectrum and the realities of post revolution China. Socialist
realism was the zeit geist, and art was tool of the revolution. By reflecting
every day life, and idealising class struggle, art was brought to the masses.
For the first time in its history, the people were the subject of art and not
merely the surrounding.
The 1966 Cultural Revolution instigated a type of cultural purification and
artistic enactment, which saw Chinese art revitalised as a tool for education
and enhancement. By popularising art, Art was used as means of expanding
the revolution and evoking a greater sense of national unity. Favoured
topics were,
the idealization of Chairman Mao and other communist leaders, friendship
with the USSR, the anti-imperialist fight, the liberation of Taiwan, economic
success,
the power of the Chinese army and above all, the glorification of the working
classes - specifically, the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers. All this was
used to suggest the magnificence of Communist China and its most famous
leader,
Chairman Mao Zedong, who was known to be a fine poet and calligrapher himself
and was widely respected as such. His simple message of empowerment to all
people was an inspiration to many, Chinese and Non Chinese, and the popularisation
of art greatly increased the people's identification with him. His ideals
transcended time and the geography of China to reach man, woman and children
all across
the world. Maoism is now a historical legacy that has had a significant impact
in modern history.
Art was dually used for both propaganda and artistic commentary. However
the value of the work from this period lies in its revolutionary and historical
nature. On the one hand artists were encouraged to explore traditional methods
of Chinese art while rejecting imperialistic Western methods, and on the
other
they were forbidden to return to traditional themes, choosing instead to
focus on modern issues like the liberation of women and the notion of socio-political
equality. The attempt was to reconcile an ancient culture based on tradition
and perceived notions or normality and stability with the ever changing scope
of the modern world where passed traditions are undercut and the future is
anything but certain. The result was highly contemporary and cutting edge
while
remaining elegant in style and tone - Revolutionary and yet subtle.
Chinese artistic development has continued to evolve. Now in the 21st century,
after the collapse of the old regime in 1976, the year of Chairman Mao's
death - Chinese artists are facing a new reality, and a new China. The
days of state
sponsored art is gone, and now Chinese artists have a new task of social
criticism. The emergence of the market economy in China, and the deconstruction
of the
welfare state forces the young artists of China to turn their scope inward
and focus on the emerging social polemics, brought about by the economic
reforms of the 1980's. Where as in the 1960's artists glorified the achievements
of
the Chinese revolution, now artists are once again called upon to defend
their countrymen with their powers of representation, which often so lucidly
brings
to light the suffering of the people, and makes one understand the severity
and paradoxical context in the complexity of the present “status quo”;
a situation not yet clear to the masses caught between the imposed changes
since 1979 against the ideals of 1949 ; not of their own making, in ways that
only art can translate.
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