One can see with the naked eye that art in China differs much from any other in the world. If you travel China you can make sure of this fact your self. Periods in China's art are tightly connected with historical periods. Ancient art starts from pottery. First pottery made of ceramics was not covered with coloured drawings, later there were drawn faces, different figures and animals.
Together with Xian dynasty in China started so called bronze age. During Xian dynasty bronze was mostly used for domestic purposes but later it became more and more decorative. The vessels were painted and decorated with gold and silver. Buddhism which came from Asia, appeared in China in the first century A.D. It influenced Chinese art greatly, that's why each piece of art you can see in China today has buddhistic motives.
There are four tendencies in Chinese painting, among them flowers and birds, landscapes (main tradition), bamboo and rocks and of course figures.
Speaking about music in Chinese art it is necessary to say that music has always been the main part of culture. Music appeared together with first music instruments, which date back to the very beginning of civilization in China. Singing was always accompanied with music. Among the instruments used by Chinese were flutes, plucked and bowed stringed instruments, cymbals, gongs, and drums and percussion instruments. Skin, gourd, bamboo, wood, silk, clay, metal and stone were used for manufacturing of instruments.
Performing arts had always played an important role in Chinese art. Traditional Chinese dance is Dragon performed at festivals in China, which is an essential part of festival celebrations and visit card of Chinese performances.
Despite the fact that ancient Chinese art always attracts lots of people with its originality, we can't but mention so called New Chinese Art. In 1999 a centre for contemporary Chinese art was founded. The basic aim of this organisation is to make New Chinese art available to a world-wide audience. |