Translated by Yuan Fang and Jiachun Xie Please see the PDF version of this text here for footnotes. The Practicality of Fine Art [1] 美术底实用 Art is the antithesis of the practical. The artistic is dependent on one’s refinement (wen), while the practical is dependent on raw substance (zhi). Why should I advocate the practicality of…
Fu Baoshi 傅抱石: Reviewing Traditional Chinese Painting since the Establishment of the Republic of China 民国以来国画之史的观察
Translated by Jiren Liu, Lei Hou, Wenying Pan, Lu Zong, Ziyue Ding & Xiao Liang Please see the PDF version of this text here for footnotes. Reviewing Traditional Chinese Painting since the Establishment of the Republic of China 民国以来国画之史的观察 I: The Literati in Traditional Chinese Painting 一、中国画的文人画 A Chinese understanding of art is still (very much)…
Xu Beihong 徐悲鸿: In Question 惑
Translated by Tianyue Wang, Tanda Li, Lijing Zhu, Zhengtang Ma and Damian Mandzunowski Please see the PDF version of this text here for footnotes. Xu Beihong:[1] In Question[2] 徐悲鸿: 惑 Holding China’s inaugural National Exhibition of Art is a joyous occasion deserving appraisal.[3] But the most laudable aspect is that there will not be any artwork by…
Li Yishi 李毅士: Why We Should Advocate Art 我们为什么提倡艺术
Translated by Wu Tong and Guo Danqing Please see the PDF version of this text here for footnotes. Why We Should Advocate Art 我们为什么提倡艺术 Art is representative of national culture. The progress of a country’s art represents its cultural progress. In China, a nation of ancient culture, we are in decline and cannot catch up with…
Li Yishi 李毅士: I Have No Questions 我不“惑”
Translated by Tianyue Wang, Tanda Li, Lijing Zhu and Zhengtang Ma Please see the PDF version of this text here for footnotes. I Have No Questions 我不“惑” An old man in his forties should not be perplexed. Having read both articles, I got to know the two Mister Xus.[1] I had questions when I read their…
Li Jinfa 李金发: The Present Situation and the Future of Art Education in China 吾国艺术教育之现状与将来
Translated by Mingyu Wang and Wenxuan Pan Please see the PDF version of this text here for footnotes. The Present Situation and the Future of Art Education in China 吾国艺术教育之现状与将来 Generally speaking, Western culture can be described as comprising of the culture of science and art. The basic reason why the West has succeeded is because of…
Ni Yide 倪贻德: The True Significance of Nude Art 裸体艺术之真义
Translated by Ke Ma, Gongyi Wu, Yuyin Cai, Qihong Zhuang Please see the PDF version of this text here for footnotes. The True Significance of Nude Art 裸体艺术之真义 Like other new theories and ideas, nude art has permeated our culture under the influence of trends of modernization. It is not only a sign of the Renaissance but…
Chen Xiaojiang 陈晓江: Advocating for the Arts 提倡艺术应有的途径
Translated by Mengzhen Zhao and Tong Song Please see the PDF version of this text here for footnotes. Advocating for the Arts 提倡艺术应有的途径 In recent times, Chinese society has shown a greater interest in art, with Western painting (xiyanghua 西洋画) enjoying a particularly avid interest.[1] One can see that New Art (xinyishu 新艺术) has somewhat shocked…
Xu Beihong 徐悲鸿: The Reform of Chinese Painting 中国画改良论
Translated by Yuan Fang and Jiachun Xie Please see the PDF version of this text here for footnotes. The Reform of Chinese Painting 中国画改良论 The decadence of Chinese painting has reached its peak today! Theoretically speaking, this world’s material civilization should not be going backwards. However, the style of Chinese painting today is like going fifty…
Wang Yachen 汪亚尘: Beauty and Fine Art 美与美术
Translated by Yuan Fang and Jiachun Xie Please see the PDF version of this text here for footnotes. Beauty and Fine Art 美与美术[1] 美与美术 The concepts of ‘beauty’ and ‘fine art’ are completely different and cannot be talked about as one. Now, I will give a brief explanation of the two concepts.[2] “美”与“美术”是两样东西，不能混在一起讲的，我现在要将这个“美”与“美术”拿来大略解释解释： What is beauty?…