「Art Appreciation Through Visual Reading」Qixi Festival: Stitch by Stitch, Praying for Dexterous Hands
The ancient Qixi Festival was far from a lovers’ celebration; it was a festival for women to pray for needlework skill, …
「A Bit of Artistic Insight」Sensibility: The Threshold of Aesthetics
What is aesthetic sensibility? It consists of two layers: observational acuity and emotional empathy. Observational acui…
「Art Appreciation Through Visual Reading」Miniature vs. Gongbi: Two Visions of Exquisite Detail
In our previous two episodes, we explored Chinese gongbi painting and Persian miniature painting respectively. Many read…
「Art Appreciation Through Visual Reading」The Wisdom of Slowness in Chinese Gongbi Painting
How much do you know about Chinese gongbi painting? Gongbi painting, also known as fine-line painting, stands in contras…
「Art Appreciation Through Visual Reading」Miniature Painting: Ideal Worlds Rendered in Exquisite Detail
On a palm-sized sheet of paper may unfold dynastic campaigns, flourishing garden vistas and entire epics — such is minia…
「Art Appreciation Through Visual Reading」Eastern and Western Aesthetics in the Shades of Light and Shadow
Inkei (shade), yūgen (mystery and subtle profundity), and haziness form the foundational palette of Japanese light-and-s…
「Art Appreciation Through Visual Reading」Eastern Aesthetics: The Distinction Between Chinese and Japanese Aesthetic Traditions
Within the scope of Eastern aesthetics, how do the Chinese and Japanese interpretations of the "Orient" diverge? When di…
「A bit of artistic insight」Lacking Inborn Talent: Ought One to Abandon the Pursuit of Aesthetics?
If aesthetic taste stems from innate talent, does it follow that those without natural gifts have no need for aesthetics…
「A bit of artistic insight」Aesthetic Sensibility: A Higher-Dimension Cognition & a Scarce Faculty
Aesthetic sensibility is intelligence elevated to a higher plane, as well as the most precious capacity a person can pos…
「Art Appreciation Through Visual Reading」Eastern Aesthetics: Zhuo (Artless simplicity)
Laozi remarked: “Great skill appears clumsy”. The common folk chase cleverness and refinement, regarding intricate, elab…