CHINESE CONTEMPORARY FOLK ART

                       KUNG HEI FAT CHOI, 2019, LUNAR YEAR OF THE PIG 

IT IS TRUE: I LOVE THE UNIQUENESS, COLOR AND PRIMITIVE DRAWING FOUND IN CHINESE FOLK ART, I WANTED TO REPOST FROM MANY YEARS BACK, WHAT I SHARED THEN. PLUS SHARING TWO NEW PIECES! 

Many countries share a common love of folk art painting, sometimes known as primitive art.

 The cultures hold many similarities in their art, but also enjoy distinct differences. Generally Folk Art illustrates a specific story concerning the ordinary, every day living of the average person.

Chinese Folk Art is more theme oriented, telling a specific story or moral.

The following contemporary folk art scenes are painted by both men and women.

Embroidery is a long established art form in China.  It is mainly a female activity. The items embroidered are quite diverse and include robes, theatrical costumes, purses, shoes and alter cloths.  Some are so finely stitched that it can take 5-6 women several years to complete a piece.

 Usually a traditional Chinese medicine shop puts its medicines/ herbs in cupboards lined with tiny square drawers.  A dispenser would pull open the drawers to take out medicine according to prescriptions provided by doctors.

Floating in metal tubs the women gather the seeds of the lotus blossom. The Lotus blossom is a very common folk art symbol.

 In Asia many homes are self contained with their gardens, animals, shrines, cooking areas and living arrangements bound by walls.  These wonderful primitive paintings preserve a way of life that is slowly changing.

 A happy celebrating of a wedding in Shanghai.

The household goods are on barges to be taken to the new home.

Neighborhood gatherings watching films.  

I don't think they are selling popcorn...but perhaps fried chicken feet! A true delicacy.

I love the clean, brightly painted, flat perspective of folk art.

No shading or highlights, just flat, bold colors with lots of tiny details. Usually the work is done on paper with paint similar to our gouache.

This is my modern take on Chinese Folk Art.  

ANOTHER MORE RECENT

Heart Thought: you might enjoy sharing these images with your children or grandchildren. Let them make up their own stories, or try their hand at their own folk art incorporating their home and environment.

MAY YOUR NEW YEAR, 2019, GIFT YOU INNER PEACE, JOY IN NATURE, LOVE FOR OTHERS AND FULFILLING A LIFE LONG WISH. 
SHARON

Midsummer's Eve

It seems appropriate that Mimi Johnson Sorensen was born on June 23rd, the week known as Midsummer’s Eve in the Scandinavian Countries; this is the summer solstice, and she was a “summer-child.” In the past when Mimi spoke about her family, she mostly spoke of her Swedish heritage. Just the word, Sweden, would conjure up all sorts of pleasant associations in my mind as a young child. So when I became a mother and an opportunity to visit Sweden with Howard’s sister, Carolyn, presented itself, it was a trip that I knew would change my perspective and enrich my family. It was arranged that we would meet Barbro Vennerholm, a Swedish acquaintance of Carolyn who agreed to show us her country, including Norway.

Sweden the magical land of trolls, hulder-maidens and gnomes; Midsummer’s Eve festivities; tall Maypoles festooned with ribbons, leaves and flowers; blond-haired maidens placing

bouquets freshly created from seven wild flowers under their pillows, dreaming of first love; smorgasbord tables groaning from the weight of lutfisk, rice pudding, gingersnaps, cheeses and fish; the legend of Santa Lucia and her crown of lit candles; and finally green valleys, azure lakes, golden aspen trees and red-washed timber homes and barns. The trip took place in May and June, 1985.

Midsummer’s Eve 2008, how better to celebrate than to read my red velvet covered journal from that trip, the journal that brings forth a thousand and one pictures into my mind. One evening Barbro. Carolyn and I, along with a group of elderly travelers from Stockholm, all staying at the Tallenburg resort in the heart of Dalarna, Sweden, gathered in a beautiful room—in my journal is the following:

“We all gathered in this beautiful room—paintings were all along the ceiling and walls, perhaps done first on cloth then pasted on, beautiful table linen, lit candles and highly waxed floors. We had a delightful evening of singing, Swedish folk fiddling, laughing, Swedish jokes, etc. Bert would try to translate as best he could for us—it didn’t matter, we felt the warm spirit of love and friendship. I was invited to share with this gathering of beautiful people, a little about myself and my American family. With an interpreter I spoke how I loved being with them and suggested that perhaps one of them was a distant relation due to my Swedish lineage. I shared my love for their old traditions—about our children—my painting, etc. Then I presented them with one of my books and a small painting. Everyone was touched—we all wept and laughed. What wonderful warmth in the room. I loved all their beautiful wrinkled faces. Later we were served coffee; we had warm milk with a lump of sugar in it along with delicious ginger cake. It was such a gracious feeling—the candles, linen, china cups, the music performed by these “antique” fiddlers. When the night drew to an end the three of us were by the door, all of the people came by, shook our hands and hugged us. They could feel our love for them. I will never forget their faces.

We went back to our cabin—after Carolyn and Barbro were tucked in bed I just had to sit and watch the coral, lavender and pink 'never-setting' sunset from our parlor window. The world is so beautiful why can’t there be peace for all? I love the folk traditions, costumes, caring ways, and reverence for the land, flowers, and animals. I hope it passes onto our family.”

Eight years ago, these canvases were painted to commemorate this wonderful trip, so many years ago. Today they hang in our guest room with other sentimental objects.