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Essay / A Summary of Cynical Realism - 3039
Considered one of the most important figures in contemporary Chinese art, Fang Lijun dedicated his paintings and woodcuts to the cynical vision of the Cultural Revolution in China and integrates his passion for art into modern work. Its dreamlike depictions of repetitive and novel characters tell the story of the rebellion and meaningless existence that young Chinese people felt due to the strong impact of China's rapid development toward modernity. Leading the Cynical Realism art movement beginning in 1989, Lijun uses his experience of the Cultural Revolution to create images that define the perplexity of an evolving society. His position during this time allowed him to shape his artistic visions and his understanding of the ethics and morality of humans in the world. This dedication to reactions surrounding the Revolution managed to attract the attention of viewers on a global scale. Before the Cynical Realism movement began, revolution became a disastrous plan implemented in order to revitalize the revolutionary spirit. Chinese leaders with the assembly of young people who were ordered to get rid of the "old" culture and those who did not support the new revolution. The entire uprising led to total economic decline and failing education systems, as well as many Chinese citizens losing faith in their government. After the death of Mao Zedong, the Chinese people, especially artists, began to realize how far China was falling behind the rest of the world due to Mao's desire for a "self-sufficient" China (Smith 16) . Art institutions were previously forced to focus strictly on social realism and the study of representational work. Production ...... middle of paper ...... movement created by raindrops. Although Fang's use of raindrops has no particular meaning, they create a source of clarity for the figures. The emotions on their faces all have a sense of joy, the undeniable satire that Fang has used throughout his (Lee) work. Fang Lijun's dedication to explaining his passion for individualism through stylistic advancements has given him the opportunity to touch the artistic passions of people all over the world. He is easily identified as one of the most notable Chinese contemporary artists to date and continues to produce works based on his success. There is no doubt that he transformed the idea of what it means to be an individual stuck in a conformist society. Fang's expression continues to grow and appear in his work, and he is proud of what he has been able to do for creative expression in China..