The Yanhuang Art Museum is ringing in 2008 with a collection of New
Year's paintings to be displayed until the end of Spring Festival.
The exhibits, which include depictions of deities, auspicious
figures, fairytales, farm work and opera scenes, showcase the rich
variety and imaginative presentations of the ancient art genre.
The predominant characters in these works are chubby children,
whose fair complexions, rosy cheeks and smiling eyes, create a mood
of merriment throughout the show.
Clad in traditional attire, these kids hold gold ingots, ride
fish, eat fruit and play in groups. The backgrounds are always
blank or feature simple patterns, bringing the action of children
into focus.
But it's not all kids' stuff. Scenes of everyday life and rural
existence are a big part of the exhibition. Several works depict
with harmonious composition wedding ceremonies, harvest
celebrations, bustling streets and festival celebrations.
Many of the other super-realistic subject matters are included
because of their cultural implications. Images of God are
associated with protection and happiness, while cranes, pines and
peonies symbolize health and longevity, and goldfish and gold ingot
are believed to bring wealth.
The palette is one of brightness and strong contrast, with the
most prevalent colors being vermillion, blue, green, sienna, pink
and purple. The painting technique is delineated by ink brush lines
and is distinguished by its own folksy character, which is a
mainstay of farm culture.
The New Year painting genre has a long history, recorded as
early as the Song Dynasty (AD 960-1279). The three famous bases for
the genre are Weifang's Yangjiabu, of Shandong Province,
Yangliuqing, of Tianjin, and Taohuawu, of Suzhou, in Jiangsu
Province.
Traditionally, farmers used New Year's paintings to decorate
their homes during festivals, especially the lunar New Year.
Usually pasted on doors, windows and walls, the New Year's
paintings come in pairs. To create balance and symmetry, the two
pictures should be of similar composition with minor differences in
the details.
Having originated from real life, the art form is without the
restrictions of time and space. The images are somewhat
exaggerated, and the spectacles are condensed versions of ordinary
scenes.
Venue: Yanhuang Art Museum, 9 Huizhong Lu, Asian Games Village,
Chaoyang District
Opening hours: 9am-4pm
Tel: 010-6491-4394/0909
(Beijing Weekend January 2, 2008)
