Q. Describe and contrast the features of the Chinese and the European art landscapes. (3marks) (2015/2017)
-> A Chinese artist believes that art is not at the mercy of the physical eyes, but an essence of inner spirit in man. He wants the viewers not to follow his eyes to look at a landscape but his mind and look at it through the spiritual eye. He gives us a freedom to interpret a painting in our own way. In the painting made for the Chinese Emperor, the artist Wo Daozi made the Emperor realize that the outer appearance, good or bad, is meaningful. The internal and spiritual beauty is more valuable.
The European art form is different. A European artist lends a fixed ‘real’ meaning to his painting; he wants the viewers to see through his eyes to realize the meanings of the landscape. European art creates an illusion of reality. The fly’s image painted by Quintan is an example of the European view of art.
Q. What did Wu Daozi paint for the Emperor? (2marks) (2016)
-> For the emperor, Wn-Daozi painted a landscape to decorate the place wall. In the painting he painted the forests, waterfalls, mountains, clouds and the immense sky along with a cave where a spirit dwelt.
Q. Explain the concept of ‘Shanshui’. (2marks) (2018/2019)
-> The Chinese word ‘Shanshui’ means ‘mountain-water’ (Yang yin). Together, these two words comprise the Daoist view of the universe ‘Yang’ is ‘mountain’ stable, warm and dry in the sun which reaches vertically towards Heaven. ‘Water is ‘yin’ – the receptive feminine aspect of universal energy. It rests on the earth horizontally and fluid, moist and cool.
Q. Compare and contrast the Chinese and the European concepts of painting. (6marks) (2016)
-> A Chinese artist believes that art is not at the mercy of the physical eyes, but an essence of inner spirit in man. He wants the viewers not to follow his eyes to look at a landscape but his mind and look at it through the spiritual eye. He gives us a freedom to interpret a painting in our own way. In the painting made for the Chinese Emperor, the artist Wo Daozi made the Emperor realize that the outer appearance, good or bad, is meaningful. The internal and spiritual beauty is more valuable.
The European art form is different. A European artist lends a fixed ‘real’ meaning to his painting; he wants the viewers to see through his eyes to realize the meanings of the landscape. European art creates an illusion of reality. The fly’s image painted by Quintan is an example of the European view of art.
