Forced connection: Mask group work

Mask!
Cos halloween is coming

 

Chinese Posters from around 1930-1956

I don't know much about the art of contemporary China.


I know that there are a lot of political posters featuring Mao.
And I know from a biography of Wu GuanZhong that he and other artists were "reformed through labour".


Reading here: http://chineseposters.net/gallery/ Then am I beginning to understand that the political posters communicate not an ideology, but different ideologies - it's a media that was used by different parties, including both the democrats and the communists - to communicate their message to the masses.

"The bulk of China is controlled by the Nationalist Party (Guomindang, 国民党, old transcription: Kuomintang), which is especially strong in the urban areas. The Communists entrench themselves in the countryside. Both parties use posters to try and mobilize the population to resist the common enemy, Japan."

Here are some examples of earlier posters not featuring Mao.

Guomintang

Designer unknown (佚名)
ca. 1937
Defeat Japanese imperialism
Dadao Riben diguozhuyi (打倒日本帝国主义)
Publisher: Junshi weiyuanhui zhengxunchu (军事委员会政训处)
Size: 64.5x39 cm.
Call number: BG D25/197 (Landsberger collection)

Anti-Japanese propaganda from the Nationalist Party (Guomindang, 国民党).



There is also something from the Japanese:

Designer unknown (佚名)
ca. 1938
Oppose Communism
Size: 74x52 cm.
Call number: BG E27/165 (IISH collection)

Japanese propaganda. An imaginary pro-Japanese demonstration, with Chinese carrying slogans: Oppose Communism; Long Live North-China; Forward China Japan Manchuko; Peace in East Asia; Down with the Communist Party; Have full confidence in the Japanese Army; Peace and happiness; A bright North China; Down with the Guomindang. 

Feminism

  Designer: Zhang Yuqing (章育青)
1955
New China's female parachuters
Xin Zhongguode nü tiaosanyuan (新中国的女跳伞员)
Publisher: Shanghai huapian chubanshe (上海画片出版社)
Size: 55x79 cm.
Call number: BG E15/27 (Landsberger collection)

Female parachuters appear often on posters, to show the emancipation of women and the role of the People's Liberation Army in their liberation.


Pretty random - and perhaps thus, my favourite.

Designer: Shao Jingyun
1955, October
Sleep, do not disturb daddy while he is using his head
Shui ba bie darao baba dong naojin (睡吧别打扰爸爸动脑筋)
Publisher: Shanghai huapian chubanshe (上海画片出版社)
Size: 54x78 cm.
Call number: BG E16/631 (IISH collection)

A family of four, apperently living in a one-room apartment. Father will study or work at the table while the children sleep.

Rock and Two Fish by Ba Da Shan Ren

Another painting by Zhu Da. At first glance, my favourite stroke is the one in the centre, defining the left and underside of the rock, and I shall only look at the stroke for now.
Perhaps, if I shift my eye, my favourite stroke may change in the next instant.
 


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bada_Shanren#/media/File:Zhu_Da.JPG

Consort Zhen

Was reading up on the Last Emperor, for the visual arts presentation project.
Came across this photo of the Consort Zhen, of Emperor Guangxu.

Enigmatic I think.
What kind of lady was she? what was she feeling when she was flogged by Empress Dowager Ci Xi?

I think it might be a good practice for to draw this picture for Drawing fundamental class - pastel on black paper, perhaps?

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%E5%85%89%E7%BB%AA%E7%8F%8D%E5%A6%83.jpg

Even though she was just a consort - in the long, long history of China.

Comic relief

Good design and humour is when something that is meant to be funny is funny.

Images from http://sgag.sg/posts/12-singaporean-local-food-puns-to-round-up-your-national-day-weekend

Cylinders

Look like installation art.
Can be installation art.
Is installation art.

Zhuge Liang foodcourt

I don't know what's the story behind the name of this food court but I want to know.

Reflection: Steven Johnson: Where good ideas come from

Much of what he said about generating good ideas come from a culture of sharing ideas and collaboration. I like collaborations. I truly enjoy the creative exchanges between people.

I'd came across a saying about sharing ideas:

If two people, with an apple each, share their apples, they will each have one apple.
If two people, with an idea each, share their ideas, they will each have two ideas.

I forgot who said it.

But it convinced me to always try to exchange ideas with people. When in discussions, I like to offer up my ideas, and hope that the other persons would reciprocate by giving me a new perspective as well. This will accelerate learning for everyone.

But the thing is, I realise that people are no longer so open about sharing nowadays. Most are defensive and guarded. Many "leech on" ideas by asking others for their ideas, but they not share theirs in turn. Some are genuinely insecure about their ideas, while some feign modesty, or there maybe many other reasons. Valid, no doubt.

But ultimately, sharing a bad idea is better than sharing nothing. Or if one doesn't have any ideas to share, then share something. Somebody's else's idea, like a quote, or a book you read. It's a social exchange. Rules of engagement.

Competitiveness and hoarding in this way is negative. If people do this with their classmates, the class performance will lose out to another. If people do this with their schoolmates, the school will lose out to another school. If people do it with the countrymen, then the country will lose out to other countries. Shouldn't let's share and become as informed as we can be?

Nevertheless, I too, find myself compelled to keep my ideas to myself sometimes. It's conflicting I know.

I wish I can find a creative community that shares freely and openly. Frankly, tactfully, and sincerely. Helping each other to improve.