The work of Cheng Conglin in the context of «scar painting» and «village realism»

Abstract

Cheng Conglin can be called one of the brightest representatives of the «scar painting» movement, which he, along with other Chinese artists, led at the beginning of his creative career. In the early 1980s, he turned to such a direction as «village realism”, which is characterized by an appeal to the beauty of the surrounding reality, the life and work of peasants. "Village Realism" is also commonly seen as a reaction to the consequences of the Cultural Revolution and as a continuation of "scar painting". Cheng Conglin is currently working actively and productively, creating new modern works that modernize Chinese painting, including traditional painting. This article examines the features of the master’s paintings, examines stages in his creative biography, and studies the methods of his work. The author analyzes the factors that influenced the formation and development of the painter’s style, as well as the influence that Cheng Conglin’s work has had on the development of modern Chinese fine art.