Chinese Art: A Guide to Motifs and Visual Imagery
by Patricia Bjaaland Welch
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Book Summary Information
Author: Patricia Bjaaland WelchEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-03-15
ISBN: 080483864X
Number of pages: 290
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
Book Reviews of Chinese Art: A Guide to Motifs and Visual Imagery
Book Review: An Excellent One-Stop Reference Material...
Summary: 5 Stars
Reading `Chinese Art: A Guide to Motifs and Visual Imagery' is like taking a stroll around a museum, with the author, Patricia B. Welch playing the well-informed guide who tries to seamlessly weave an artful narrative to entertain the visitor by telling them as much as possible and yet without overwhelming them. This does not come as a surprise since Welch has had guiding experiences at museums in Boston, Bangkok and Singapore. Welch's writing style flows in a smooth fashion, taking the reader from a discussion on the cultural and historical contexts of certain symbols deemed imperative to Chinese art to a detailed analysis of religion and religious influences to the emergence of particular art forms to the specificities of colour, patterns, numbers and other inanimate objects. For instance, in a discussion on the usage of butterflies in Chinese art, Welch shows how in various contexts, butterflies take on different meanings; conjugal fidelity when represented with a flower, a `change of seasons' when represented with chrysanthemum, a `sympathetic way of expressing the desire that someone reach old age', happiness and longevity inter alia (pp. 91-93). Such details make the book an excellent reference material. The beauty of this book lies in the fact that Welch writes for a wide range of audience including specialists, amateurs and students, like myself, with little knowledge on Chinese art yet extremely fascinated by the subject. I have always been in search of a one-stop reference guide to pull out from the shelves to get information on just about anything pertaining to Chinese art and this book provides me with just about every detail I need and more.
The book is divided into three parts: the first focusing on symbols from nature, the second on mortal and religious beings and the third on inanimate objects. Content aside, `Chinese Art' is filled with hundreds of rich pictures of art from all over the world, making it an excellent coffee-table book. The detailed chapter endnotes and bibliography show the arduous and meticulous research which Welch has done to put this book together and these act as excellent points of reference for those interested in further research into specific subject matters. `Chinese Art' is a joy to read and I highly recommend it to anyone who is fascinated by the subject.
Summary of Chinese Art: A Guide to Motifs and Visual Imagery
Chinese Art is a guide to the meanings behind the hundreds of common motifs and symbols found in all forms of Chinese art. A thorough examination of the diverse usage of natural symbols, colors, numbers, inanimate items and personages, Chinese Art communicates the deeper messages to be found in Chinese decorative art. It is an excellent reference for collectors, museum-goers and students of Chinese art, culture and history.
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