[IBC] A spark, triangles and other strange ideas (OT)
Peter Aradi
Reading some of the parallel articles on this forum, my
emerging feeling is reinforced that aesthetics and one's
view of art is like religion. It becomes deeply personal
and goes beyond reason, right into the realm of faith and
beliefs. So as I have no intention to influence ones "almost
religious faith" in art, I refrain from a long posting.
However, I do express my view in brief:
Chinese art, specially painting, is aimed to present a
perfect ideal. It is NOT intended as representation of
reality. Chinese garden arts used painting for inspiration,
not the other way around. Chinese penjing used garden
arts for inspiration. Japanese bonsai used Chinese penjing
as a starting point. So accordingly, I strongly believe that
to develop a sense of bonsai aesthetics, one must study
Chinese paintings.
To help those who interested in the subject I am including a
short annotated bibliography. Please note that it is incomplete
and highly biased as I only list books that I have and read.
Many are relatively expensive, some are very reasonably
priced. I suggest that you use your local library as a resource,
and take advantage of the interlibrary loan service if you have to.
THE MOST IMPORTANT FOUR:
Looking at Chinese Painting.
Wang Yaotíng.
THE definitive first book on the subject for any student or
interested party.
Chinese Painting Style - Media, Methods, and Principles of Form.
Jerome Silbergeld.
The most used introductory text in college courses. A delight.
Chinese Landscape Painting.
Sherman Lee.
The essence of the ideas that formed penjing and bonsai.
The Mustard Seed Garden Manual of Painting.
Mai-Mai Sze.
At least 300 years old, it is a treasure of information. Should be
read after one or more of the books above.
THE SECOND GROUP OF IMPORTANT WORKS:
Ten Thousand Things: Module and Mass Production in Chinese Art.
Lothar Ledderose.
A completely new way of looking at Chinese art. It may radically
change your idea of how art is produced and revise your thinking
about artistic vocabulary.
Three Alternative Histories of Chinese Painting.
James Cahill.
A short survey by the most knowledgeable American scholar on the subject.
The Compelling Image - Nature and Style in 17th Century Chinese Paintings.
James Cahill.
A well illustrated gem.
Chinese Painting and Calligraphy. - A Pictorial Survey.
Wan-go Weng.
Great illustrations, a few pages of text.
The Way of the Brush. - Painting Techniques of China and Japan.
Fritz Van Briessen.
While dated today, for several decades it was the definitive book on the
subject. Very useful, specially as it explains the "vocabulary of the
brush."
Pictures and Visuality in Early Modern China.
Craig Clunas.
Anything by Clunas on China is a must read.
Zen Buddhist Landscape Arts of Early Muromachi Japan. (1336-1573)
Joseph Parker.
Arts in the period when bonsai emerged as an art form in Japan. There is no
direct reference connecting bonsai and Zen Buddhism, but lots of information
on the cultural climate of the time.
Art in China.
Craig Clunas.
A great and up-to-date introduction to the subject.
How to Look at Japanese Art.
Stephen Addiss.
A useful first book on the subject.
A FEW BOOKS FOR THE HARD CORE ENTHUSIASTS:
Understanding Chinese Painting.
T. C. Lai.
Quirky, but interesting.
On The Laws of Japanese Painting.
Henry Bowie.
Written in 1909, yet a great book on the subject that also shows
how Western understanding of Far Eastern art has evolved.
Empty and Full - The Language of Chinese Painting.
Francois Cheng.
This book is for those who treasure literature as well as the visual arts.
The author refers to the subject as "philosophy in action."
Japanese Aesthetics and Culture. - A Reader.
Nancy Hume, editor.
A collection of essays for the serious student.
Modern Japanese Aesthetics. - A Reader.
Michel Marra. Editor.
An up-to-date collection of relevant essays.
Enjoy.
BTW Lynn: feel free to return to your former vocabulary.
Your sins have been absolved.
Cheers.
Peter Aradi
Tulsa, Oklahoma
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Lynn Boyd
Welcome your thoughts that have a serious background!
The bibliography is a treasure trove - it is generous of you to take
the time to list them. I recognize some, have some, and see some that will
drive me to search as soon as I can. I hope everyone can take advantage of
the list. I know some will.
_The Mustard Seed_ which is a collector's item at times is among
mine - an old copy - used, and I hope carries the influence of its previous
owner to me. I may soon buy a reprint just to save the old one from my wear
and tear. It is for the text as well as the numerous pictures.
> BTW Lynn: feel free to return to your former vocabulary.
> Your sins have been absolved.
Whew, that gives me good cheer, but, also, is restraining just to
think that a clean slate is the easiest to smudge. :)
Lynn
Lynn Boyd, Oregon, USA