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Synopsis
of a Video on Perspective
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Chinese Art Observations
on Perspective in Chinese and Western art From the Video Synopsis of Video: This is a comparative study of Western and Eastern perspectives in art, culture/history, and philosophy using two Chinese scrolls, one painted in the 17th century and one painted in the 18th century, and a 19th century French Impressionist painting. All three paintings include figurative landscapes and cityscapes. The oldest scroll was completed prior to Western missionaries arriving in China. When comparing the two scrolls, it is clear that the missionaries influenced the traditional perspective used in Chinese art. It is further discussed that our Western influence directly changed the Chinese people's perspective of their own civilization in contrast to the outside world. The 17th century scroll which measures 27" x 72' is an intimate look at life in China at that time. It was commissioned by the Emperor to historically depict an event. Each of the thousands of tiny figures contained within the scroll are painted as individual human portraits. The perspective used by the Chinese is very different from the Western perspective which uses clearly defined edges and a fixed point of reference for the viewer. The earlier scroll allows the viewer to control the edges and in so doing creates a subtle, yet complex shifting of viewpoint. It becomes an actual journey where the figures are linked to one another. There is a relatedness in the figures to nature and its surroundings. The Chinese are able to define the plane without the use of shadow or other Western conventions. There is an emphasis on inside space versus outside space in the pre-influenced Chinese art. Furthermore, David Hockney uses the later scroll to illustrate when the Western influence occurred within the art of China. A type of sadness is felt by the viewer when looking at the newer scroll. The characters are less animated and appear to be isolated from one another. Mr. Hockney relates the change in the art to the loss of intellectual curiosity in China at that time and the beginning of the decline of China. Video: A Day on the Grand Canal With the Emperor of China, Milestone Film & Video 1991 Synopsis by Patti Burkhardt |