On the Application of Traditional Elements in Modern Environmental Art Design. Zhenglei Dong 1, a

Transcription

1 Applied Mechanics and Materials Online: ISSN: , Vols , pp doi: / Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland On the Application of Traditional Elements in Modern Environmental Art Design Zhenglei Dong 1, a 1 Huanghe Science and Technology College, Zhengzhou, China, a zcc201201@163.com Keywords: Chinese traditional elements, environmental art design, application. Abstract. The traditional Chinese elements, which are the embodiments of Chinese culture, should be naturally applied into modern environmental art design. And the residents psychological needs should be put in the first place in the design process because their natural emotions are closely related to the national culture. So during the design process, designers are required to absorb the essence of traditional Chinese elements and to bring forth new ideas in order to make the environmental art design consistent with the development of Chinese traditional culture. Introduction As the great heritage of human society, the traditional elements, which are saturated by profound Chinese philosophy and cultural connotation, take natural and spiritual pursuit into first consideration in environmental art design. However, the excessive application of traditional Chinese elements will impede the development of environmental art design and can not fit in with the modern society. Therefore, the designers ought to integrate traditional elements with modern environmental art design on the basis of further investigation so as to promote the development of environmental art design with a characteristic of its own. The connation of traditional Chinese elements As a part of Chinese culture which have been identified by the Chinese residents and overseas Chinese, traditional Chinese elements refers to the customs, symbols and images which are the reflections of traditional Chinese culture, the embodiments of national interests and dignity. The traditional Chinese elements we usually talks about are mainly applied into paintings, clothes and architecture. What distinguishes traditional Chinese elements from the other cultures are the traditional Chinese philosophy they contain, such as the golden mean of the Confucian school, and Daoism which advocate the philosophy that people should govern by doing nothing that is against nature. The connation of environmental art design and its development Environmental art design is a multi-disciplinary and comprehensive subject which is related to psychology, material engineering, art design, ergonomics, garden design, architecture, sculpture and paintings, etc. As a new subject, environmental art design has been greatly influenced by local culture such as local customs, local conditions and the residents psychology and emotions. In the beginning the philosophy of Chinese environmental art design is to adopt traditional culture. For instance, the designers of Suzhou Gardens gave priority to traditional Chinese philosophy such as Daoism and Confucianism in the designing process. And the designing philosophy that man is an integral part of nature has been favored and praised by designers at home and abroad. All rights reserved. No part of contents of this paper may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of Trans Tech Publications, (ID: , Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA-17/05/16,07:52:31)

2 Applied Mechanics and Materials Vols The development of globalization has great influence not only on economy, but also on environmental art design. Many Chinese designers begin to imitate the western designers. Though it is good to introduce advanced western technology and designing ideas into China, aimless worship of the western design concepts may bring Chinese environmental art design into trouble. At present, many young designers consider traditional design philosophy to be superstitious and that it is not consistent with the scientific outlook on development, whereas the western design ideas are more advanced. Their unquestioning imitation makes Chinese environmental art design indistinctive and featureless. Nowadays many buildings with Chinese characteristics fall into oblivion and most buildings, especially the buildings in the cities, are stereotyped and monotonous because of their lack of Chinese cultural backgrounds and atmosphere. What s worse, Traditional culture in modern environmental art design is marginalized and gradually replaced by the western culture. And today many buildings with Chinese or local features are mostly located in remote rural areas. The application of Chinese traditional elements in environmental art design What the designers should do is to look for representative cultural elements from tradition, but not to copy the western ones. It is urgent for designers to combine modern designing technology with the ancient culture because China is a country with long history and with distinctive architecture concepts. And the application of Chinese traditional cultural elements to modern environmental art design can be enumerated as follows: The graphics. The direct application of traditional graphs in modern art design is to locate traditional cultural elements in a new carrier, creating a new visual and linguistic environment. This is a kind of reintegration, innovation and creation. The graphs the designers choose should incorporate well with the environment, specific workmanship and materials that are adapting to carriers. Only through appropriate portfolio can the designers make full use of the graphs. For instance, Jin Mao Tower in shanghai was designed by a foreign designer in Though it is reinforced concrete structure, it is favored by Chinese people because its outlook is similar to Songyuesi Pagoda, which is a masterpiece of Buddhism building in Song Mountain in China. Metaphors. The designers were used to using implicit methods to express their emotions and feelings in ancient Chinese buildings and indoor decorations. Appropriate cultural patterns and settings outside the building and indoors are helpful to show Chinese characteristics. This kind of designing method is named metaphor which emerged in modern environmental art design through some cultural elements such as cultural connation, implied meaning, values, etc. Form and spirit. The designers had better view the traditional culture from a new aesthetic perspective and emphasize both the form and spirit of it on the basis of true understanding. Only in this way can the traditional culture be renewed and developed. In Chinese traditional environmental art design, the lines are not only used to express width and directions, but also are used to represent speed and strength. The best example of form and spirit harmonized in modern environmental art design is the use of Chinese classic poetry, which makes the designing works full of poetic imagination and idylls. The charms of the design which conceive blueprint through three-dimensional space are so impressive and intoxicating that it can be compared to the realization of sweet dreams. Suzhou Museum designed in 2006 by Bei Youming, a well-known overseas Chinese designer who was born in Suzhou, is a representative architecture which is a mixture of tradition with modern aesthetic concepts. The inner scenes of this museum, especially the yards he designed are full of Chinese characteristics and traditional Chinese elements. And the river wiggles across the

3 398 Architecture, Building Materials and Engineering Management artificial mountain which is made up by several stones. In a word, Suzhou Museum is an artistic masterpiece which is a natural combination of traditional Chinese elements with modern designing ideas. Traditional Chinese philosophic ideas. China is a country with long tradition, profound philosophies and various beliefs. The philosophical ideas such as Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhim have great influence on Chinese people and the people in nearby countries. Chinese philosophy puts great emphasis on harmonious relationships between man and man, and man and nature. The designers under such influences tend to emphasize the harmony between aesthetic subjects and object, respect kindness and honesty, underscore ethnics, and advocate balance. The philosophic idea of the harmony between heaven and man, and Confucian ideas are the theoretical basis of environmental art design. In order to solve the conflicts between beliefs and reality, the philosophers and scholars try to grasp the meaning of life by re-designing the environment because the environmental art works, especially the gardens, can make the dwellers live more comfortably and freely. Besides, harmonious natural law principle in Daoism also has great impact on the methods of environmental art design. For example, in traditional Chinese environmental art design, trees were seldom placed along the lines and most vegetation was planted according to the nature law. This kind of application of traditional Chinese elements is beneficial to create a good living environment, thus being able to meet the needs of modern environmental art design. These designing concepts are deeply rooted in Chinese art design, which has already formed a characteristic of its own under the influence of traditional cultural and philosophical elements. So nowadays it is essential for the environmental art designers to learn a lot from Chinese culture and philosophy. To cultivate a cultural atmosphere that modern culture and traditional Chinese culture can coexist in harmony for the formation of modern environmental art design. Cultural globalization foster new aesthetic ideal, sense and needs and change the cultural environment of modern environmental art design. Moreover, it makes a unified cultural pattern impossible. Under such circumstances, modern environmental art design in China should have its own characteristics and features. However, with the obvious national characteristics, traditional Chinese culture still influences people s way of thinking. Meanwhile, modern culture has distinct characteristics of the era. So their combination should promote modern environmental art design. Conclusion To summarize, environmental art design should take a developing path with Chinese characteristics based on the reality of the country. The designers should follow the social trends as well as adhering to traditional culture and learn western countries advanced design philosophy moderately. Yet they should keep Chinese environmental art design features and create works with Chinese characteristics. The application of traditional elements in environmental design stands for the value of modern spiritual world with the humanity and aesthetic happiness they provide. The direction of art design is the combination of tradition and innovation, classic and art in the application of traditional elements.

4 Applied Mechanics and Materials Vols References [1] Yu Lei. On Fusion and Innovation of Modern Design and Traditional Culture. Ji Lin Institute of Economic Management (2006) (in chinese) [2] Qingyao Deng: Environmental Art Design,Shang Dong Art Publishing Press (1995) (in chinese). [3] Liguo Zhang: Aesthetics of Modern Design, Henan Art Publishing Press (1999) (in chinese) [4] Appreciation of Culture in Ancient Chinese Gardens, People s Daily Overseas, (2003) (in chinese) [5] Jiajun Wu and Zhu Chun: Environmental Art Design, Shanghai Calligraphy and Painting Publishing House (2013) (in chinese) [6] P. Hall: City of Tomorrow: An Intellectual History of Urban Planning and Design, edited by Bsal Blackwell, The Twentieth Century (1998) [7] Yang Xiangyi and Gladys Yang: A Dream of Red Mansions, Beijing Foreign Language Press (1999)

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