Edward Jolley
Professor Bomboy
Humanities 101
4 October 2015
Non-Western Art Critique
There are many differences
between Western and Non-Western art. These significant aspects that set them
apart are, for example, the use of materials, aesthetics, cultural variances, philosophical
concepts, and religious views. The piece
I chose is known as “Gan Ku Tiger”,
which is a hanging scroll painting that was created by Gan Ku during the Edo
Period of Japan around AD 1784-1796. The scroll, which is made of silk, has numerous
examples of many of the elements and principles of art. Gan Ku Tiger was
influenced by the “Nagasaki style”, which is highly decorative and popular
among rich clients. I have always been a fan of tigers so I personally think
this piece is quite beautiful and stays faithful to the Asian culture. The
scroll is authentic and is a perfect example of Non-Western Art.
Tigers were very popular
in art during the Edo Period of Japan and this genuine painting expresses its
beauty. The Gan Ku Tiger’s artist Utanosuke Gan Ku had quite an imagination when
creating this tiger painting due to the fact that “the artists
would never have seen a real tiger, they must have worked from skins” (“Gan Ku
Tiger”). This particular piece is one of the most important of the British Museum
where the scroll is kept. Tigers are also popular among my interests because they
are my favorite animal. This animal gives art a powerful and mysterious aspect
and I can understand why they were so popular during this time in Japan. The silk
tiger scroll’s signature is authenticated and after being verified by the Museum
officials, the conservation team then makes the decision to maintain the piece.
The element of arts, which are the
visual components or building blocks that work together to create a larger
structure can be found throughout the Gun Ku Tiger painting. The very first element
that caught my eye and led me to choose the painting was the use of line. Not
so much as in the more bulky strokes on the rocks of the cliff but the finer
more distinct lines of the tiger’s pelt and even more the actual whiskers. Stripes
are the tiger’s most significant attribute and this surely leads to the artist’s
careful portrayal of them on the scroll.
Texture is
probably the biggest element of this painting. I’ve noticed that through
viewing the painting as a simple picture online or in a book there is hidden
detail that I could only uncover through watching a conservation video of the
painting on the British Museum website. The High Definition video pans across
the painting and reveals detail that was never before seen within the pictures.
The brush strokes of the tiger’s fur are textured to replicate strands of fur.
The detail is so fine that it makes you believe if you would to brush your hand
across the painting, you would actually feel each raised strand of fur on the
tiger’s pelt.
Another
significant element I found used well is that of space, which when increased or
decreased around the focus of the art, it can change how we view what we are
looking at. The tiger is shown on the small edge of a cliff. There minimal
amount of space for the tiger to stand makes us view the animal as being exceeding
nimble and agile as he climbs across the treacherous terrain. It’s a very remarkable
technique to show the qualities of what the art represents to the viewer.
The
principles of art are used to organize the elements within art and contribute
greatly to the final interpretation of the piece. The most significant
principle that I personally noticed was that of Emphasis, particularly the
contrast of the warm color of the tiger onto the cool colors of the grass and
water. The viewers’ attention is immediately drawn to the orange tiger climbing
across the cliff’s green grass and blue water.
A more
subtle principle in this artwork is the unity which it represents. The tiger
seems to be crawling across the landscaping which makes the wild animal and
nature come together in appropriate coordination. There is a very strong sense
of balance and harmony as everything seems to be fitted together in a natural
way across the scroll. There are also similarities in the features of the
roaring water and the intense appearance of the tiger which match appropriately.
I find the
principle of proportion in the painting very interesting. If a person who didn’t
know anything about the physical characteristics of a tiger would observe this
scroll painting, they would most likely believe that the tiger’s size might be
exaggerated to give the animal a more fearsome demeanor. The truth is that the proportion
is very accurate. The tiger’s “powerfully hunched shoulders, the placing of its
feet and the tip of the tail, just visible, which all emphasize the animal’s
size and strength” is very accurate. The tiger is the largest natural occurring
cat in the world.
This Japanese
scroll painting “Tiger” by Gan Ku contains many qualities of elements and
principles of art. It’s very classy and a delight to look at. The fact that this
accurate painting was created by most likely nothing but a pelt gives the
entire piece of art an alluring disposition. Considering all the design
elements involved, specifically the use of line and contrast, there is no doubt
why it’s one of the most valued pieces displayed in the British Museum. The way
the painting was completed on a silk scroll really gives the painting a classic
Asian style that is easily distinguishable from Western Art.
“Tiger” by Gan Ku, Edo
Period of Japan around AD 1784-1796
Works Cited
“Gan
Ku, Tiger, a hanging scroll painting.” Britishmuseum.org.
Trustees of the British Museum, n.d. Web. 4 Oct. 2015.
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