Modern Chinese Flower Painting

Traditional chinese bird and flower art with a modern twist.

Modern chinese flower painting.

Chinese painting is one of the oldest continuous artistic traditions in the world. Elements of nature such as animals trees and flowers served as prolific painting motifs for centuries depending on the time period flower paintings often carried either mythological religious or medical meaning. Flower painting previously associated chiefly with buddhist art came into its own as a separate branch of painting in the five dynasties 907 960. In ancient greek tradition for instance carnation represented symbols of love while ivy embodied marital fidelity in middle ages.

Dubbed contemporary urban gongbi bird and flower painting wan fu s paintings on show at jin space gallery are replete with masterful chinese brushstroke and ink wash techniques. Wu was influenced by post impressionist art and went on to blend western and chinese styles to create a unique form of modern art. But without understanding the floriography the meanings associated with certain flowers the symbolism and thus underlying message could go over your head.

00 00 utc 8 2020 08 28. Over the course of chinese painting the three main subjects have been landscapes birds and flowers and figures. Painting in the traditional style is known today in chinese as guóhuà simplified chinese. Throughout art history flowers have been one of the most beloved subjects for painters.

Sep 16 2020 explore barbara schilling artist s board paintings of flowers followed by 680 people on pinterest. Along with flowers came birds. Some flowers represent seasons or months. The vibrant blossoms of flowers have long provided artists with inspiration with many dedicating their careers to produce still life paintings of various botanical beauties.

The long tradition of flower paintings extended. For example the four seasons are represented by flowering cherry winter orchid spring bamboo summer and chrysanthemum fall. Widely considered as the founder of modern chinese painting wu guanzhong has captured various aspects of china in his paintings like its architecture plants animals people and landscapes. Fast forwarding into the twentieth century the modern movement in chinese art was launched by the cantonese artists gao jianfu 高劍父 1879 1951 his brother gao qifeng 高奇峰 1889 1933 and chen shuren 陳樹人 1884 1948.

From 17th century dutch still life paintings to japanese woodblock prints flower art has a long and storied history. Chinese flowers are a recurring theme in chinese art and poetry.