CONTEMPORARY CHINESE SCULPTURE OVERVIEW

Abstract

In the past century, China has experienced significant cultural and societal transformations, transitioning from a culturally isolated and largely illiterate nation to one that is actively developing alongside the rest of the world and presents a unique blend of cultural tradition and modern civilization. Over the years China has seen several generations of sculptors who have been both actively and passively influenced by various schools of sculpture and ideas from France, the Soviet Union, Europe, and the US. In other words, the development of contemporary Chinese sculpture is closely tied to the ideological and cultural progress of China in the 20th century, resulting in a unique and distinctive presence within the global art scene in the 21st century. Unlike other cultural fields, Chinese contemporary sculpture has expanded beyond the boundaries of the art world and the academy. It not only focuses on developing a realistic sculpture system but also incorporates Western contemporary art concepts into its creative process while preserving traditional Chinese sculpture. Contemporary sculpture is currently being developed in a balanced manner through various mainstream routes, including the realistic art tradition of the West, the contemporary art concepts of Europe and America, and the Chinese cultural codes. The formation of this situation has complex reasons, which can be attributed to the multiple changes in the development route of Chinese sculpture throughout the 20th century. This has resulted in several trends of contemporary Chinese sculpture and culture. Additionally, the development trends of Chinese culture throughout the 20th century, as well as the semi-planned and semi-market-oriented economic system implemented in China after the Reform era, have also contributed to this situation. This article provides an overview of the overall development context, explores the issue of the delayed development of contemporary Chinese sculpture, and reviews sculpture genres and styles, offering insights into the formation and genesis of contemporary Chinese sculpture.