Introduction to the Histories of Art II – G6

Group members: Gek, Raj, Pin, Son Tra

For the final assessment, we have decided to do a visual response to Japanese screens (byobu). The idea was inspired by Yao Lu’s New Landscapes and Team 5’s presentation. 🙂

At first glance, Yao Lu’s New Landscapes looks like any Chinese landscape paintings of mountains. On closer observation however, it is actually depicting Read more →

As mentioned by my group members in their posts our group has decided to focus on Chinese ceramics, namely functional ones like plates or bowls.

I remember seeing examples like the one pictured above at the Asian Civilisations Museum when researching for my team presentation and I thought we could generate some interesting visual responses to these ceramics.

A Read more →

Group members: Andrew, Fern, Chen Yue, Ziyu

During the discussion on Thursday, we agreed to focus on Chinese ceramics. Which Chinese ceramic we wanted to focus on, well, we will need to do further research. We might focus on the white wares.

However what we agreed on is to focus on functionality of Chinese ceramics and the modern interpretation of such items.

For Read more →

Group members: Andrew, Fern, Chen Yue, Ziyu

Our group discussed and decided that we want to expand on the Chinese Ceramics for our final project!

We felt that the Chinese Ceramics in the past and now is really different in terms of functionality. They used to have ceramics as decorations at home on shelves, for offerings, and for storing items, and they are Read more →

Create an imaginary interview of the three Buddhist Japanese royal patrons: Shotuku, Shomu, and Fujiwara no Yoromichi

When we first saw the topic, Iskandar and I immediately said “Let’s do a talk show together!” and the rest were quick to agree as well! I was so glad that the decision was so unanimous. We then went back to research on the Read more →

The general purpose of Chinese bronze vessels was to communicate with spirits, usually that of their ancestors. Food and wine are placed in these bronze vessels as offerings, and communication was usually through inscriptions on the bronzes for the ancestors as well as to future generations. The bronze vessels are decorated with intricate designs called “tao tie” 饕餮, often recognized Read more →

Chinese landscape paintings appeared as early as 4th century BCE, when people started to be more mindful about nature.[1] However, they were very much in the background and only became more prominent in Chinese culture around the end of the Tang dynasty. It was from then and to the Northern Song period (960–1127) that we now perceive as Read more →

Having an afterlife, especially a comfortable one is an important belief throughout ancient Chinese history. Families did not want their deceased loved ones to suffer in the yellow springs; a fictional location of immeasurable graves and where spirits congregated.[1] They brought along objects with them to their deathbed so that they are able to continue having them in Read more →

Chinese Buddhist art is a complex collection of icons of deities. Being adherents of Mahayana Buddhism, the Chinese often depict bodhisattvas and the different buddhas[1], championing salvation for everyone through the numerous deities[2]. Chinese Buddhism was adopted during the end of the Han dynasty 220BCE-220CE[3], as it entered from India into China via overland and maritime trade routes[4]. This essay Read more →

Chinese Buddhist Art started out as similar representations of prototypes from India, and transformed over time due to the influences of Chinese culture and values.[1] Many new celestial Buddhas and Bodhisattvas were included in Chinese Buddhist Art, extending its focus to others besides Buddha Shakyamuni.[2] From the time period of the Northern Han Dynasty to the Read more →