The legacy of the artist Su Gaoli: creative method, main themes and plots

Abstract

The article explores the work of the artist Su Gaoli, who belongs to the generation of masters educated in the “New China” in the 1950s and 1960s. His oil paintings, dedicated to the mountain landscapes of Taihangshan, differ in subject matter from paintings by Chinese painters of that period. If the painting of his contemporaries was devoted to revolutionary and historical themes and depicting everyday life, then the work of Su Gaoli is distinguished by a humanistic character, a realistic orientation in the reproduction of natural landscapes, and plein air method. One of the main themes of the artist's work is the landscapes of Taihang Mountain. In the context of the artist's creative path, his paintings and their influence on the development of Chinese oil painting are analysed. Knowledge of traditional Chinese art and study at the Academic Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture named after I.E. Repin laid the foundations for the skill of the artist. In his paintings, there is a mastery of compositional construction and monumentality. Reliance on native culture, a deep experience of life allowed the artist to create sincere and concise paintings.