ClappingTree’s Web 2.0

CURIOUSLY, WHILE WESTERN ART traditionally celebrates innovation and new ways of depicting real life, Chinese art seems to value imitation. Chang DaQian, often called the “oriental Picasso”, was famous and acclaimed for his numerous forgeries during his lifetime.

A friend once said something to this effect, “When art has reached its zenith, there’s nothing more to innovate or do except to try to emulate what has already been achieved. This is what has happened to Chinese art – it has been perfected after thousands of years of civilisation.”

Is this true, or just an excuse for not innovating?

(Imported from a forum and edited.)

“I have a terrible need of — dare I say the word? — religion. Then I go out at night to paint the stars…” — Vincent van Gogh, Arles, 1888

I’M JUST AN OCCASIONAL ART-LOVER, ever since an Introduction to Art module during U days. Hope to share views and insights on favorite artists, artworks, and the art itself here. One of my favorite art pieces is Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night which has been eulogised in a song entitled Vincent.

Van Gogh (1853-1890) was a great genius, utterly ignored during his lifetime. He created hundreds of brilliant paintings; only one was sold then. Killed himself at 37. Read the rest of this entry »