The symbolic meaning of the sculpture "Faceless Buddha" in the work of Tsiu Tsitsing

Abstract

History of development of Chinese jade carving art is dating back some 8000 years into Neolithic period The development of the ideas of Chinese jade carving, the change of their external forms, reflects the close relationships between reality (the objective world) and the inner world of man. The difference between contemporary and traditional jade carvings lies in the artist’s conscious desire to convey and disseminate his own worldview in society. The purpose of contemporary jade carving does not stop at the description of the traditional image and form by the artist, but also, through embodiment in form, tries to reveal an individual aesthetic perception. Jade carved works, possessing symbolic meaning, have a significant impact on the complex interaction between material and spiritual world of the artist; having a deep, symbolic meaning, these works affect the feelings and spirit of people as well. Tsiu Tsitsing (born in 1979) is the most famous and influential jade sculptor in contemporary China from the end of the 20th century and at the start of the 21st century, his jade articles have a distinct personal style, are original and modern. His works not only contain the thoughts and concepts of Buddhism (Zen-Buddhism), Taoism (Lao-Zhuang philosophy), and Confucianism (literary view) in traditional Chinese culture, but also integrate the concepts and formal language of Western modern art. As the most representative type of his (Tsiu Tsitsing) extensive oeuvre of sculptures, the series of jade carvings of " faceless Buddha" contain profound cultural information. The creative subject by inventing new system of symbolic language creates a new world of jade carving. At the same time, the creative subject re-examines the possibility of the current integration of Chinese traditional culture and Western modern art with the help of this symbol system.