▶Preface.
Traditional painted art is a precious heritage of human culture and art. Painted art is diverse in style, covering the cultural connotations and expressions of different regions and groups.
Madagascar is a large island in the Indian Ocean with a cultural history of Malay, Bosnian, Indonesian and East African roots. This diverse culture is reflected in the art of painting.
This article will provide an overview of the Malagasy painting art of 1765 and its styles, and analyze the painted art materials and tools. We will also explore the themes and symbols of painted art in society and culture, as well as the application cases and enlightenment in contemporary art and design.
▶ I. The rheology of painted art in Madagascar
The art of painting on the island of Madagascar has its roots in local cultural and religious traditions. Artists often make painted works using materials such as sand, bark, grass and teak. Common colors in Madagascar painting art include yellow, blue, green, red, white, etc., and the colors are provided by many natural substances, such as soil, petals and plant roots.
The style of painted art also reflects Madagascar's multicultural and religious traditions. They often combine Malagasy mythology and historical facts, revolving around different themes such as life, religion, customs and the natural environment.
While traditional painted art is usually presented in the form of circles, rectangles and ovals, modern painted art pays more attention to the abstract representation of geometry and lines.
Madagascar also has other types of painted arts, including cultural heritage and contemporary crafts. The works were made by different groups and places, and they differed in the style of painting, the subject matter and the materials used.
In addition to Madagascar, many countries around the world have their own unique style of painted art. Karakam painting art in India, Japanese washi paper painting, ant pastel painting in China, and so on.
▶ 2. The use of painted art materials and tools
The materials and tools used in painted art have always been the focus of painted artists. Different materials and tools can present different effects and styles.
In Madagascar, painted artists often use natural plant dye, mineral pigments and persimmon paste. Natural plant dyes are particularly widely used, such as red dyes obtained from bright red annatto bark, yellow dyes obtained from cork bark, and black dyes made from wild foot roses.
In terms of tools, Malagasy painted artists usually use bamboo pens or sticks as painting tools. There are also some special tools such as board sticks, milk bowls, bamboo brushes, etc.
In India, painted artists use natural dyes and make different painting styles using different background materials. In Japan, several layers of washi paper overlap and are painted on the surface, forming a unique style of washi paper painting.
In China, the traditional ant pastel painting uses a mixture of ink and pigment, using tools such as bamboo skewers and silk pens.
Malagasy painted art is usually divided into three main categories according to narrative, abstraction, and symbolism.
Since ancient times, Madagascar has had the art of narrative painting based on historical facts and myths. These works are based on frescoes or paintings, often containing many details and depicting people, buildings and scenes.
The works reflect the history and traditions of the island, while also showcasing the talent and skill of the artist.
Abstract painted art is an important part of Malagasy painted art. These works draw on geometric shapes and line table phenomena, as shown in simple circles, rectangles and ovals.
Abstract painted art, which focuses on the exploration of space and the design of patterns, is particularly prominent in the traditional Dongalaki art of Madagascar.
Symbolic painting depicts some of the social and cultural imagination on the island. These works originate from different themes such as animals, the natural world and everyday life. Symbolic works express the culture of Madagascar, thus reflecting the country's diverse culture and traditions.
Painted art styles outside Madagascar
In addition to Madagascar, there are many painted arts around the world. The styles of painted art usually range from Hanach Karibu in Colombia to Andy in Bolivia.
From Gufta in Australia to Masai in Africa, the styles vary. But the essence of painted art and the message conveyed are often similar.
▶ 3. Themes and symbols that reflect social culture
The patterns and colors presented by painted art are not simple expressions, but abstract expressions of social and cultural connotations. Many painted works of art imply a specific theme and symbol.
The art of painting in Madagascar is mostly based on primitive religions, legends and scenes of life. For example, there is a type of pattern modeled after the shape of a boat, depicting life related to water and boats, such as fishermen, fishing scenes, etc. There are also motifs in which corn flowers and Ceylon willows are the main elements, showing the scene of cultivation and harvesting.
In the painted art of Madagascar, animal motifs are one of the very common elements. For example, crocodiles, dragons, turtles, birds, etc., each animal has its own special symbolic meaning.
Socio-cultural themes and symbols in painted art outside Madagascar
Common themes in Indian karakam painting art include traditional Hindu stories, myths and legends, and local landscape figures. For example, lotus flowers, elephants, peacocks, statues of gods, etc. can all be found in the art of Karakam painting.
In Japanese kimono painting, traditional themes include natural scenery such as mountain scenery and fallen leaves, as well as motifs depicting characters such as teenage dreams and women's postures.
▶ Fourth, the change and evolution in the art of painting
Painted art, like all art forms, is influenced by the times and the level of people's thoughts. With the evolution of history, the art of painting is constantly changing and evolving.
Modern painted art has broadened the expression of painted art. Modern media such as visual technology, music, and film production can be added to make the art of painting have a wider space.
The use of traditional painted art in modern art and design is gradually diversified and multi-layered. A good painted work of art needs not only aesthetic connotation, but also cultural connotation and exquisite skills.
Many brands, businesses and institutions use painted art to design logos or iconic products. For example, the logos used by companies such as Coca-Cola, Starbucks, and Amazon reflect the use of painted art.
Painted art is also widely used in home decoration, clothing, interior design, museum exhibition design and other fields. Especially in interior design, the use of painted art for decoration generally brings unique feelings and visual effects.
5. The enlightenment of painted art to contemporary art and design
Color and style are not only important elements of any culture, but also at the heart of painted art and design creativity. The art of painting in Madagascar attracts the eye with its rich colors and unique patterns. The development and reform of painted art has greatly boosted the creative passion and innovative ideas of manufacturers and designers.
Contemporary design should focus on the reference and borrowing of different cultural materials to create unique creative elements and styles. This requires artists and designers to maintain an open mind and culturally diverse vision in the creative process. Through multicultural materials and creative thinking, design and art works can achieve higher innovation and aesthetic value.
▶ 6. The influence and application of painted art in contemporary art and design
Malagasy painting and other painted arts also have a wide range of applications and influences in contemporary art and design.
Painted art can be flexibly applied to different design fields, such as home decoration, clothing design and jewelry design. The art of painting has also become an important element for contemporary artists. It leads to better cross-cultural communication and artistic creation.
In contemporary art and design, the imagery and form of painted art became part of innovative design and artistic production.
▶ The author thinks
Traditional painting art shows different styles and characteristics due to its diverse geographical, ethnic and cultural characteristics. As an important cultural heritage, painted art still has broad application prospects in contemporary art and design.
With the changes of the times and the development of society, painted art also needs to be constantly innovated and developed. We need to respect and protect the charm of traditional painted art, and also seek new creative and expressive ways in contemporary art, so that painted art can continue to move forward on the road of development and innovation.
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