Greetings to all our friends at Our Lady’s High School! Thanks for the art and fashion questions. I’m not an expert by any stretch of the means, but I did get a hold of our in-house art and fashion critics at the newspaper to compile some answers to your following questions. 希望能解答你们的问题!(Hope these answer your questions!)

1.How does Chinese painting differ from European style painting? Liam Gingell S4

One of the common criticisms of Chinese paintings when compared to European paintings is the narrowness of subject matter. Whereas anything can be put on canvas in the West, traditional Chinese paintings invariably are of the landscape or portrait type.

Some have suggested that this narrow choice of subject matter is a direct correlation to China’s deep literary roots. The evolution of traditional painting in China became an artistic link between calligraphy and poetry. Indeed, it’s not uncommon to have poems written alongside simple traditional paintings.

Furthermore, it’s also been noted that concepts of perspective are not as important when compared to European paintings. Chinese paintings are just as detailed, but realism is not the ultimate goal. As European paintings developed comparatively more realistic depictions, traditional Chinese paintings, with their links to calligraphy and poetry, sought a more poetic and inner connection between the artist and their work.

2.Are there any particular fashion trends that people follow in China today? Is a particular style popular? Julie McLaughlin S4

With over 1.3 billion people in China, sometimes it’s hard to keep in mind that about 70% of that population live in rural areas. China is quite vast, and no particular fashion trend can be unanimously seen as the norm.

Even in cosmopolitan cities like Shanghai, I would still say that fashion sense is still not very mature when compared to other developed cities.

I notice that business dress is more laid back in Shanghai. Unless one works as an executive at a large company, in a hotel, or at a bank, wearing a suit every day is not common. Conservative dress shirt and slacks is about as good as it gets for most of the white-collar working class.

Here’s a picture of some of my staff at a co-worker’s wedding reception. Except for the bride and groom, the clothes you see are what they wore to work that day. I’m the short guy, third from the right, by the way 🙂

Compare the dress of my Shanghai colleagues to these two women in Inner Mongolia, also in China:

3.Who is your favourite Chinese artist? Deanna Watt S4

If I had to pick just one, I’d go with Wu Guanzhong (吴冠中). One of the more famous contemporary painters of China. Amongst other things, he was known for his landscape style that mixed Western Impressionism with traditional Chinese painting.

Although formally learning painting at 25, his first solo exhibition was held in 1979, at the age of 60. It was during the 80’s that his career took off and was eventually awarded the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Ministry of Culture. Wu died four months ago in Beijing, at the age of 90.

4.What are the differences between Chinese art and Scottish art? Lewis Watt S4

Although we’re not too familiar with Scottish art over here, my colleague’s feeling is that the landscape art of Scotland are painted more realistically than traditional Chinese paintings. Whereas realistic landscapes seek to give the viewer a feeling of vastness and awe, traditional Chinese landscape techniques are more subdued and abstract, instead paying more attention to capturing the essence of the subject.

5.Do many Chinese artists make their paintings symbolic? Nicola Reid S4

Well, it’s a bit subjective, but I suppose all art can be seen as a symbol of something, and probably many, if not all artists would say that their work is symbolic of what they’re trying to express.

But I think I know what you’re asking. The subjects in traditional Chinese painting were invariably either portraits, depictions of everyday life, or landscapes. Abstract Chinese paintings were very rare up until contemporary times, and even then, it’s probably due to ease of knowledge transfer in our technologically advanced world and once traditional styles can now blend and mix with newer ones far easier than before.

6.Who is the best at martial arts in China? Daniel Cheasty S4

Well, I’m from Hong Kong, so my answer will be a bit subjective, but my all-time favourite, without a doubt is Bruce Lee. Not only did he bring martial arts to the limelight in the West with his movies, but he was, in fact, a brilliant fighter.

What I like most about Lee was that he was a deep philosopher and sought to break down traditional dogma to become a better martial artist. “Have no style,” was his mantra, and he blew away then-traditional beliefs that fighting styles should be segregated and combined all the best of each different style to his own.

7.Who is your favourite shoe designer? Patricia Murray S4

Incidentally, Church’s — which is a UK brand. I’m always up and about in my job, so I go through several dress shoes every year because of the wear and tear. I find Church’s the most value for my money because they last longer. Other times it’s just Nike and New Balance.

I have a feeling that’s really not what you were looking for, so I went ahead and asked some of our 20-something female staff here at the office, and what they spend their salaries every month on.

Their mutual consensus on what’s hot in the city right now when it comes to shoes is Jimmy Choo, which, coincidentally, is also a UK-based brand. Interestingly, although Choo is Malaysian, he is of Chinese descent and has a Chinese name: 周仰杰.

Here’s a picture from shanghaiist showing people lining up for the launch of Jimmy Choo for H&M last year:

Thanks for the questions, everybody. Keep ’em coming!