Retrospectives: Visual Cultures and Identities in Asian Contemporary Arts

Abstract

The phenomenon of cultural migration or diffusion in the world of visual arts has been recorded since the evolution of art starting in the prehistoric period. However, the evolution has not been widely acknowledged in the past. Art historians claimed that western civilization started between 24,000 and 22,000 years ago. Artifacts of over 100 pieces of the Paleolithic period’s Venus figurines have been excavated from many parts of Europe. Most share several attributes in common. All depict female figures with shapes that are almost always obese with tapering points at the top and bottom. The focus is on the exaggerated breasts, abdomen, vulva, hips, and thighs. These contrast with correspondingly scant interest in other features of the body. The head, for instance, is usually small with little detail. Although these Venus sculptures deliberately highlight the similarities of gender and physical female characteristics which invoke issues of fertility, few figures of pregnancy or infant-bearing have been found throughout western, central, and eastern Europe. The evolution of arts gradually changed from Mesopotamia to Egypt, from Greek to Roman, from Roman to Medieval. The last period of the Medieval movement was the International Gothic style from 1100 to 1400 CE throughout Europe. In the Gothic style, gigantic churches with pointed roofs, windows and towers were built to serve the Christian god and used as landmark destinations for pilgrimages. An elegant and delicate realism, which perfectly suited the decorative needs of the royal courts at that time, was stimulated by the growing cultural rivalry of European royal courts located in Prague, Paris, Spain, and England. The style exerted a strong influence on the Early Renaissance. After the Renaissance came Neo Classicism which echoed the classical Greek and Roman art. With western societies becoming more independent from royal rule, Romanticism appealed to the stiving of independence for the common man. It idolized the past, the supernatural and nature. This brought art into what is considered the era of Modernism of the 19th century. One of the major movements of Modernism was Art Nouveau, a movement that swept through the decorative and fine arts, as well as embracing architecture in Europe. It clearly indicated global cultural interchanges due to colonialism and worldwide trade between Asian and European. Art Nouveau’s fresh approach to art generated enthusiasm throughout Europe and spread throughout the world. The movement issued in a wide variety of styles, embracing patterns, flowing lines and stylized florals. Artists drew inspiration from both organic and geometric forms evolving elegant designs that united flowing, natural forms with more angular contours. It is known by various names, such as the Glasgow Style, Jugendstil, Secession. Alternatively, the decorative lithographs of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, one of the Art Nouveau styles aiming at modernizing art and design, were evidence of an escape from the eclectic historical styles. The later Impressionism, and Post-Impressionist artist employed some of the characteristics in their work; notably in the paintings of Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin. Then, the style went out of fashion gave way to Art Deco in the 1920s, but it experienced a popular revival in the 1960s. It is now seen as an important predecessor of modernism in the 20th century and later Post Modernism or Contemporary movements which excels in the rapid development of technology and globalization.