LandEscape Art Review // Special Issue | Page 43

Jing Zhou

LandE scape

CONTEMPORARY ART REVIEW artistic languages . The purpose of such practice is to touch the Sublime — something that is above the mundane and transcends our ordinary lives .
As you have remarked in your artist ' s statement , you create artworks for making visible those concepts which reflect your personal experiences . So would take this occasion to ask you if in your opinion , personal experience is absolutely indispensable as part of the creative process : in particular , do you think that a creative process could be disconnected from direct experience ?
I think that it depends on the individual and the artwork ’ s context . I don ’ t think that direct experience is “ absolutely indispensable ” as part of the creative process . One of the significant qualities of humanity is the ability to sense and sympathize with others ’ feelings and experiences , which we call “ compassion .” I believe that good artists are sensitive and compassionate people with rich imaginations . In that sense , creative process cannot be disconnected from a personal experience , whether it is direct or indirect .
As a Chinese woman artist living in the Western world , you are aware of both Eastern and Western cultures and you had the chance to explore the heritage of both worlds . So we would like if you can recognize any dichotomy between Tradition and Contemporary : in particular , do you think that Contemporariness is an expression of a contrast , such a reaction towards the heritage of the past ?
Understanding both Eastern and Western cultures has helped me to reach a wider horizon as an artist . Art reflects our society and mirrors our souls .
Social movements have transformed art throughout history , and the art movements are sophisticated and various . For instance , although some dated the age of Modern Art between 1860 and 1970 , perhaps its social influences went back as far as the French Revolution ( 1789-1799 ) and Industrial Revolution ( 1760-1840 ). Meanwhile , according to online resources , Contemporary Art was defined as “ the art of the late 20th and early 21st century ” ( dictionary . com ), which “ includes , and develops from , postmodern art , which is itself a successor to modern art ” ( arthistory . about . com ). Therefore it might be a little over-simplified to compare the two — Contemporary and Traditional arts — in a social context ,