Through an Open Door: Selections from the Robert A. Hefner Collection of Contemporary Chinese Oil Paintings Book by Robert Hefner

Robert Hefner

ISBN 10: 1556708203 / ISBN 13: 9781556708206

Published by Stewart Tabori & Chang, 2007

About this Item

Immediate dispatch from Somerset. Nice book in great condition. Pages in excellent condition. Very very slight tan to page edges. Hardcover. English. See images for condition. About the book >.>.> Through an Open Door: Selections from the Robert A. Hefner Collection of Contemporary Chinese Oil Paintings is a curated volume showcasing 32 notable artists from the transformative period of contemporary Chinese art. This collection documents the evolution of oil painting in China, with a focus on the progression from Socialist Realism prevalent in the late 1970s to the neoclassical Country Realism that gained traction in the 1980s. The book offers insights into the significant cultural shifts that have influenced this artistic movement.The selections reflect a broad array of styles and themes, highlighting the diversity of contemporary Chinese art. Critically, it examines how these artists have embraced various influences, including traditions of realism and surrealism, as well as more abstract approaches that have emerged among younger generations. As contemporary Chinese artists navigate their identities and express their perspectives, their works illustrate the dynamic interplay between historical context and modern expression.This collection not only serves as a testament to the rich artistic landscape of China but also invites readers to engage with the history and evolution of its oil painting practice. Through an Open Door provides a comprehensive overview that enhances appreciation for the complexities and nuances of contemporary Chinese art, inviting further exploration of each artist's unique contribution to the field.

Seller Inventory # Batch-FM679-VG-13893

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Through an Open Door: Selections from the Robert A. Hefner Collection of Contemporary Chinese Oil Paintings Book by Robert Hefner
• Publisher: Stewart Tabori & Chang
• Publication Date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1556708203
• ISBN 13: 9781556708206
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Very Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • All Things Art
  • Art Painting and Paintings

About this title

Synopsis

Through An Open Door: Selections from the Robert A. Hefner III Collection of Contemporary Chinese Oil Paintings focuses on 54 works representing 32 artists from Hefners' permanent collection. Included are transitional pieces showing the development from Socialist Realism, common to Chinese oil painting from the beginning of the People's Republic through the late 1970s, to what Chinese critics have called Country Realism, prevalent in the 1980s, and on to a neoclassical style by which many of these artists have become identified over the last decade. More recent paintings, reflect an abstract as well as surrealist direction taken by the younger generation of artists. This collection represents the energy and experimentation of the Chinese artists who took oil painting in a whole new direction during one of the most critical times in their cultural history. Through photographs, and in their own words, we come to understand more about these unique individuals and how they view their past and present in their rapidly changing society.

Reviews

Along with the new surge of interest in China and its art comes this timely book, capturing the experimental spirit of oil paintings created during the reforms following the Cultural Revolution. The 95 full-color and 35 black-and-white images from the Robert A. Hefner III Collection in Oklahoma City showcase 32 living painters, artists who merged modern aesthetics with ancient tradition through Western techniques. An introduction by Hefner describes the establishment of his collection, and a curator and a Chinese scholar follow with two essays providing background information about the development of Chinese oil painting. Hefner's pioneering efforts to give the Western world a glimpse of contemporary Chinese oils are well illustrated in this important book, which reflects a crucial period of Chinese history. Recommended for public and academic libraries with collections on Asian art.?Lucia S. Chen, NYPL
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