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Term I :- (Write only highlighted vocab words and questions and answers in your copies), Landscape of the Soul :Introduction:, Landscape of the Soul Written by Nathalie Trouveroy, the chapter is about how different the Chinese Art, form is, from the European art form. The writer uses two stories to make a contrast. European art is, about reproducing an actual view whereas Chinese art is about not creating a real landscape., Summary, In this chapter, the writer contrasts two forms of art – Chinese art and European art by using two, different stories. In China during the eighth century, the Tang emperor Xuanzong commissioned a, painter Wu Daozi to decorate a wall in the palace., Upon seeing the wall painting, the Emperor started noticing the outer appearance of the painting but, the painter drew his attention to a cave at the foot of the mountain. The painter told the Emperor that, he would take him inside., The painter entered the cave and the entrance closed behind him. As soon as the painter clapped his, hand, the painting on the wall was gone and so was the painter., In another story, a painter wouldn’t draw an eye of a dragon as he feared that the dragon would fly out, of the painting. In another story to represent a European art form, a master Blacksmith falls in love with, a painter’s daughter. The father didn’t approve of him because of his profession. The blacksmith, sneaked into his painting studio and painted a fly on the painter’s latest panel., The fly seemed so real that the painter tried to hit it first before realizing it was in the painting. The, painter accepted him as a trainee in his studio. The blacksmith married the painter’s daughter and later, became one of the famous painters of his time., These stories revealed as to how art form is believed to be followed in two different regions in the, world. In Europe, an artist wants the viewer to see a real viewpoint by borrowing his eyes. The art must, be perfect and must be illusion likeness., Whereas, in China, the artist doesn’t paint a real one but uses his inner and spiritual voice to create an, abstract piece. The viewer can enter the painting from any point and can travel according to his own, imagination. The artist wants the viewer to enter his mind and create a path of its own., This concept is called ‘Shanshui’ which means ‘mountain water’. When they are used together,, they make the word ‘landscape’., Vocabulary words, Dwells – live; stay
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Splendid – very impressive; superb, Astonished – greatly surprised or impressed, Disciple – a follower or a pupil of a leader, teacher, Anecdote – a short interesting story of a real person, Flanders – a medieval country in Western Europe, Antwerp – a city of northern Belgium, Delicate Realism – the quality of art that makes it seem real, Swat – hit or crush something, Apprentice – trainee; learner, Illusionistic Likeness – an illusion created which resembles something, Figurative painting – metaphoric representation of an art, Leisurely – unhurried or relaxed, Conceptual Space – relation with an abstract representation, Daoism – a Chinese philosophy based on the writings of Lao-Tzu, Void – empty; vacant, Conduit – channel; tube, Oppressed – burdened; worried, Lofty – tall or high, Questions and Answers:, Understanding the Text, 1. (i) Contrast the Chinese view of art with the European view with examples., Ans: The Chinese form of art is based on imagination and shows inner and spiritual approach of the, artist. Whereas, the European art form is real and reproduces an actual view of the object from the, landscape., (ii) Explain the concept of shanshui.
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Ans: Shanshui is a Chinese concept of art which means ‘mountain water’. It is used together to, represent the word ‘landscape’. The two complementary poles (yin and yang) of an image reflect the, Daoist view., 2. (i) What do you understand by the terms ‘outsider art’ and ‘art brut’ or ‘raw art’?, Ans: ‘Outsider Art’ is the art made by untrained artists, for example children or mentally ill person., ‘Art Brut’ or ‘Raw Art’ is a type of art made by people who are not professionals but they create, an art piece with their own depth and understanding and not from the stereotypical form of classical or, fashionable art., (ii) Who was the “untutored genius who created a paradise” and what is the nature of his, contribution to art?, Ans: “Untutored genius who created a paradise” was Nek Chand. He was an eighty year old creator, – director who made the world famous Rock Garden in Chandigarh. He used everything from a tin to, sink or anything which he felt as an art form. One of his famous creations are ‘Women by the, Waterfall’., Talking about the Text, 1. Discuss “The Emperor may rule over the territory he has conquered, but only the artist knows, the way within.”, Ans: The statement means that the Emperor rules over the territory which he has conquered and have, the power but the artist knows the path and mysterious work of the universe. The artist can go beyond, the materialistic appearance of objects. No matter how powerful the Emperor was, the artist’s true art, form can be seen the way he wants to show them., 2. Discuss “The landscape is an inner one, a spiritual and conceptual space.”, Ans: The statement ‘The landscape is an inner one, a spiritual and conceptual space’ means that a, Chinese artist wants the viewer to enter his mind rather than borrowing his eyes to view his art piece., This requires both physical and mental participation. Viewer can enter the painting from any point and, travel from one point to another point. As it is not a real one, it is an inner, spiritual and abstract space, of the artist., Thinking about Language, 1. Find out the correlates of Yin and Yang in other cultures., Ans: In Indian culture, Yin which is receptive and female part and Yang which is Masculine and male part, are known as ‘Maya’ and ‘Brahma’. Nature is the Yin and God is the creator of the universe., Likewise Yin-Yang, the two combination of Maya and Brahma creates a world.
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2. What is the language spoken in Flanders?, Ans: French language is spoken in Flanders which is situated in Belgium., Grammar Exercises, The following common words are used in more than one sense., Panel, , ,studio, brush, essence, Material, , Examine the following sets of sentences to find out what the words, ‘panel’ and ‘essence’ mean, in different contexts., 1. (i) The masks from Bawa village in Mali look like long panels of decorated wood., (ii) Judge H. Hobart Grooms told the jury panel he had heard the reports., (iii) The panel is laying the groundwork for an international treaty., (iv) The glass panels of the window were broken., (v) Through the many round tables, workshops and panel discussions, a consensus was reached., (vi) The sink in the hinged panel above the bunk drains into the head., 2. (i) Their repetitive structure must have taught the people around the great composer the, essence of music., (ii) Part of the answer is in the proposition; but the essence is in the meaning., (iii) The implications of these schools of thought are of practical essence for the teacher., (iv) They had added vanilla essence to the pudding., Ans:, 1. (i) Board of decorated wood, (ii) Group of people selected to give unanimous verdict on a legal case, (iii) Group of experts, (iv) Window panes, (v) Group discussion, (vi) a flat board fixed with a hinged, 2. (i) the intrinsic quality of something which determines its character
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(ii) The main part, (iii) Practical importance, (iv) An extract obtained from vanilla plant and used for flavouring agent, Extra Questions and Answers :Short Answer Type, Question 1., Briefly narrate the story of the Emperor and the Chinese artist., Answer:, A painter Wu Daozi, who lived in the eighth century was asked to paint a landscape by the Tang Emperor, Xuanzong, to decorate a palace wall. The artist concealed his work behind a screen, so that only the, Emperor would see it. For a long time, the Emperor admired the wonderful scene., One day the painter showed him a cave at the foot of the mountain, and said that a spirit dwelt there., The painter clapped his hands, and the entrance to the cave opened. He then entered the cave and the, entrance closed behind him. Since then nothing is known of the artist or the painting as the painting, vanished off the wall., Question 2., How did stories such as the one about Wu Daozi play an important role in China‘s classical education?, Answer:, Such stories played a significant part in China‘s classical education. They helped the master to guide, his pupil in the right direction. They were not merely tales, but were deeply illuminating of the essence, of art. The books of Confucius and Zhuangzi are full of such stories. They reveal that art was considered, the essence of inner life and spirit in Asia., Question 3., What is the difference between the Chinese and European art?, Answer:, The Chinese and European art are different as the European art is trying to achieve a perfect, illusionistic, likeness in Europe, and the Chinese the essence of inner life and spirit in Asia. While the European wants, you to look at the landscape through his eyes, the Chinese painter wants you to enter it from any point,, then travel in it. He creates a path for your eyes to travel up and down, then back again, in a leisurely, movement.
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Question 4., How does shanshui express the Daoist view of the universe?, Answer:, Shanshui means ‘mountainwater.’ It expresses the Daoist view. The mountain is Yang and it, stretches vertically towards Heaven. It is stable, warm, and dry in the sun, while the water is Yin. It is, horizontal and resting on the earth, fluid, moist and cool. The interaction of Yin, the receiver, feminine, aspect of universal energy, and Yang, active and masculine, is the fundamental belief of Daoism., Question 5., How is the pranayama compared to the Middle void?, Answer:, The Middle Void is vital as nothing can happen without it. This is the reason why the white, unpainted, space in Chinese landscape is imperative. This is also where Man finds a fundamental role, in the yogic, practice of pranayama we breathe in, retain and breathe out. The suspension of breath is the Void, where meditation occurs., Question 6., How did the theory of ‘brut art’ put forward by Jean Dubuffet get credence?, Answer:, French painter Jean Dubuffet challenged the concept of ‘art brut’ in the 1940s. Before that the art of, the untrained visionary was of minor interest. At about the same time ‘an untutored genius was, creating paradise’. This was none other than Nek Chand, who cleared a little patch of jungle to make, himself a garden sculpted with stone and recycled material known to the world today as the Rock, Garden, at Chandigarh., Long Answer Type, Question 1., Narrate the tale of the Chinese Emperor and the artist. What message does the story convey?, Answer:, Tang Emperor Xuanzong asked the painter Wu Daozi, to make a landscape to decorate a palace wall. The, artist had hidden his work behind a screen, so only the Emperor would see it. The Emperor, for a long, time, admired the wonderful scene, discovering forests, high mountains, waterfalls, clouds floating in an, immense sky, men on hilly paths, birds in flight. One day the painter showed him a cave, at the foot of, the mountain.
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He said that a spirit lived there. Just then, the painter clapped his hands, and the entrance to the cave, opened. The artist said that it was infinitely beautiful inside and he entered the cave. The entrance, closed behind him. Since then nothing has been known of Wu Daozi., The story underlines the message that the Emperor was only interested appreciating the outer, appearance of the painting but the artist makes known to him the true meaning of his work. The, Emperor admires the territory while the artist is filled with the ‘spirit’ within., Question 2., Narrate the anecdote that brings out that Europeans endeavoured to achieve ‘a perfect, illusionistic, likeness’., Answer:, In fifteenth century lived a blacksmith named Quinten Metsys who fell in love with a painter‘s, daughter. The father, being an artist, would not accept a son-in-law who was a blacksmith. So Quinten, crept into the painter’s studio and painted a fly on his latest board. It seemed so real that even the, artist thought it was real and tried to swat it away., It was then he realised what had happened. He immediately took Quinten as a trainee into his studio., Quinten then married his beloved and went on to become one of the most famous painters of his, age.This story exemplifies what European form of art was trying to achieve. They wanted a perfect,, illusionistic likeness., Question 3., What was the revolutionary idea in art that was put forward by Jean Dubuffet? How did an Indian artist, support his theory?, Answer:, Before the French painter Jean Dubuffet, challenged the concept of ‘art brut’ in the 1940s, people, were not interested in the art of the untutored creative thinkers. It was he who defied this concept. As a, consequence this ‘outsider art’ has steadily become the fastest growing area of interest in modem, art worldwide. He felt that there are artists who have received no formal training, yet show talent and, artistic insight. Their works are a motivating contrast to a lot of conventional ones., Question 4., Nek Chand’s work is acclaimed as the work of a genius and is appreciated world over. Justify., Answer:, Nek Chand’s work is acknowledged as India’s biggest contribution to outsider art. The fiftieth issue of, Raw Vision, a UK-based magazine that initiated the outsider art publications, featured Nek Chand, and
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his Rock Garden sculpture ‘Women by the Waterfall’ on its anniversary issue’s cover. It reported how, Nek Chand had used every thing from a tin to a sink to a broken down car to create a work of art that, took him to the pinnacles of glory., The Swiss Commission for UNESCO applauded his art as ‘an outstanding testimony of the difference a, single man can make when he lives his dream’, and decided to honour him. They decided to put up an, exhibition of his works. The five-month interactive show, ‘Realm of Nek Chand’, is to begin in, October. It is to be held at leading museums in Switzerland, Belgium, France and Italy. However, the, greatest honour for him is seeing people enjoy the creation.
