The Golden Age of Chinese Art

The 1930s were not a time most people would think to be a Golden Age. The images of this period in America are not particularly inspiring due to the Great Depression and every thing that went with its economic woes. However, the art of China did experience a sharp rise in demand during this very time period. It seems hard to believe today. Interest in Chinese art had been growing at a steady pace for some time by the 1930s. At the noteworthy Freer Gallery of Art the arrival of Chinese works was the culmination of C.T. Loo's unique business. The size and quality of the gallery's Chinese collection grew in number at this same time. It is a fact that the acquisitions made during this difficult economic era were higher in value than those of the decade before or after. The "Golden Age" for Chinese art had come upon the American and international scene!

Back in the 1930s the Freer Gallery of Art concentrated on metal works (23 pieces in all). It also acquired jade (49 pieces) and paintings (23 pieces). The gallery spent more than $249,950 on Chinese acquisitions specifically. As the decade progressed the gallery's Chinese artworks reached three new heights: $249,950 in 1930, $176,850 in 1935, and $160,550 in 1939. In addition to these purchases, Chinese art research at the gallery was increased. Structurally speaking, the gallery's installation changes gave the eastern wing of the gallery building over to the exclusive exhibition of the art from China.

In the mid to late 1930s, the growth of the Chinese art related activity at the Freer was simply a part of a much larger picture. It is true that in the United States interest in Chinese artworks was spreading to regional and newly established museums. Some of these places included the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the Nelson Museum of Art, the Seattle Art Museum, and the City Art Museum of St. Louis. During this time, the study of Chinese art and its civilization became more widespread than ever before. The consideration of the culture of China had become a subject for deeper, academic contemplation. In fact, a new generation of American scholars and curators had emerged to give China a closer look. One such person was Archibald G. Wenley (1898-1962). He was the first American curator seriously trained in the Chinese language and its culture.

A short review of the new activity back in China also seems to be necessary. In China at this time, the antique business continued to prosper. In the mid thirties the antique trades of Shanghai reached their pinnacle of success. Interesting to note is the fact that there were about 210 antique shops in the community along the Guangdong Road. The government of China had begun to devote more attention to the cultural heritage of the nation. One event which bloomed from the antique business was the government sponsored excavation at Anyang. The excavation continued until the year 1937. This excavation yielded some of the most incredible findings. Therefore, to promote the glory which rightfully belonged to China and its civilization the government sent a great number of art and archeological pieces to London. These pieces became a part of the International Exhibition of Chinese Art at the famous Royal Academy in 1935 and 1936. This landmark exhibition included more than three thousand artworks from some two hundred lenders all over the world. So the evidence for the international fever over Chinese art was very transparent.

Such a shift toward Chinese art at a time as unlikely as the 1930s does seem hard to comprehend today as one looks back on history. The seeds of interest were indeed sown across the United State prior to this decade. The timing of their bloom might appear to be odd. Even so, the thoughtful student of this period should be reminded that such trends are often the result of several cultural and economic forces in play at the same time. Chinese culture, along with the influx of Chinese people to America, had been going on for quite some time. There was a definite shift in the thinking of academics toward the Middle Kingdom already taking place. Chinese art in America had simply of age. In truth, there was no stopping these events by the time this Golden Age arrived.

By Harlan Urwiler

3D Character Animation Bringing Motion and Emotion to the Arts

When an animator is asked what drives the passion in their work the most, the answer is always 'bringing the characters to life'. What other medium allows the artist to not only design and flesh out their own creations, but have them move and interact with a world of their own? Or give them the chance to add fantastic creatures to real footage, as if they were real themselves? With possibilities stretching out endlessly in front of the aspiring creator, the only restriction is his own ability to bring that creation to life.

The first obstacle of the process is how the motion will match the design and detail of the cast. If the leading male has limbs shaped like elbow macaroni, and eyes that take up half his face, then movement will look best when exaggerated and goofy. If he had been modeled realistically, right down to creased knuckles and dilating pupils, then the motions will naturally look better subdued and straight-laced. The average audience member has come to expect certain visual consistencies, so experimenting with these principles should only be done if confusion is the desired effect.

After the style of motion has been pinpointed, the actual 3D character animation work may begin. Now, care must be taken to not only keep to the style, but to keep in mind the limits of the medium as well. When drawing out an animation frame by frame, the pictures have a tendency to vary at least slightly, but this at least adds motion to even the stillest of shots. When a 3D animation project is first set up, the basic scene consists of static objects and environments, and thus has nothing but the motions put into it. If an animator forgets to add motion to the eyebrows when portraying a very expressive character, something is going to be noticeably off to the viewer. Even the most experienced artists go through their work after completion, to make sure that nothing was missed.

Of course, just emulating emotion and expressions is not enough to spark interest in the average viewer. Even if they are not aware of it, the little secondary motions will be what keep their eyes on the screen, and their mind on the shot. Add a lingering swish to a woman's skirt as she turns around, or that flow of motion from shoulder to fingertip as a walking man swings his arms, and the shot will seem that much more natural. Little pieces of realism like that will even help the audience accept more abstract plots, because they will have something concrete to attach the concept to.

This ability of 3D character creators to adapt more difficult concepts into a simpler format has earned the industry quite a bit of professional respect in recent years. After all, it is a lot easier to explain a complicated process through an instructional video than a lengthy, text heavy document. Whether it's converting an employee handbook, or explaining a complex medical procedure, the use of relatable 3D characters interacting with the information further cements the ideas, and drives the concept home on a much deeper level than words alone can deliver. Animation simply presents the vehicle to make this magic possible.

By Daniel W Dani

The Top 5 Disney Villains

Throughout the history of fairy-tale storytelling, every hero and heroine has had an antagonist, nemesis or arch-rival. A strong willed and good natured character that saves the day has to have an opponent which embodies all the negative traits that divide them.

Whether this divide is in the form of pure evil versus good or simply two characters with different goals, Disney know how to bring the epic struggle between good and bad to life. After all, it is the villains which make the heroes and without them the stories just wouldn't be as entertaining.

We'll be taking a look at the Disney villains which stuck in our mind the most, right through our childhood to present day.

5. Mother Gothel

The latest Disney villain to enter the fray, Mother Gothel was a selfish and vain woman who was obsessed with her youthful looks. After finding and hording the power of a magical flower which restored health and living for hundreds of years.

When Mother Gothel discovers that the nearby kingdom had taken the magical plant to save their dying Queen who was about to give birth, she vows to get it back for her own selfish gains.

The flower is used to save the Queen, who subsequently gives birth to a baby with long golden hair, Rapunzel. Little did the King and Queen know that their baby's hair held magical powers, even on the night that Rapunzel was kidnapped by Mother Gothel.

Now, it's bad enough to steal the baby of the King and Queen in order to live forever, but Mother Gothel was so selfish that she raised Rapunzel as her own daughter in a hidden tower so that she could horde the magical power of her hair.

For 18 years Mother Gothel held Rapunzel captive denying her the knowledge that she was the rightful princess to the Kingdom.

4. Cinderella's Stepmother

Cinderella's stepmother, Lady Tremaine, and her stepsisters held Cinderella as their personal servant after her father died when she was still young. Having to wake up early in the morning to toil away all day at the whim of this evil trio all through Cinderella's teens is a strong nomination for the top spot.

Even when Cinderella finishes all her tasks and creates her own ball gown, Lady Tremaine denies her the freedom and destroys the dress.

Even when the glass slipper is being fitted to identify the mysterious girl from the ball, aka Cinderella, Lady Tremaine traps her in the attic and hides away the key. Her pursuit of social advancement and the prospect of having daughters as potential princesses blind her to the fact that she will never achieve her goal. However, she is so determined to follow her delusions that she is even willing to destroy the glass slipper.

3. Cruella De Ville

Cruella de Ville's name says it all; cruel devil. Everyone loves puppies, but Cruella loves them for a very different reason. She is hell bent on kidnapping the cute Dalmatians to use their fur for a new coat, all in the name of fashion. As a spoilt London heiress, Cruella is used to getting her own way and if someone doesn't comply to her wishes, she will calculate and plan their demise.

Of course she won't get her hands dirty, so instead, she has her loyal yet somewhat dim-witted henchmen to carry out her evil wishes.

The imagery of Cruella De Ville is notorious and is the subject of many Halloween fancy dress parties. Her stick thin figure sports a black dress and a huge fur coat displaying all the characteristics of a slave to fashion. Never seen without her cigarette holder and her signature monochrome hair-cut, the Dalmatian puppies were her last obsession before being bested.

2. Maleficent

Another villains name which sounds as evil as the person it embodies, Maleficent was portrayed as pure evil with no room for remorse or mercy.

When the King and Queen hold a party in the castle to celebrate Aurora, the baby princesses christening, Maleficent materialises and curses the family for not being invited. This curse would see to it that Princess Aurora would prick her finger on a spindle before her sixteenth birthday and requires the three fairy god mothers to help thwart Maleficent's evil plan.

With powerful magic at her disposal, Maleficent is a force not to be reckoned with, shapeshifting at a whim and even turning into a huge dragon when things really start to get serious. Maleficent is so evil that she was ranked number 1 in the official top 30 Disney Villains countdown.

By Richard T Skidmore