Abstract: This article is dedicated to analysis of the works of a contemporary artist Zeng Fanzhi in the context of dialogue of traditions of Western European and Chinese painting. The author reviews the stages of formation of this original artistic manner that combines different stylistic approaches and techniques; reveals the key artistic peculiarities of his works – from referring to Western expressionism to formation of an individual style. A detailed analysis is conducted on the principles of conceptual art of Zeng Fanzhi realized in the use of meaningful images and symbols, such as “masks”. The author examines the methods of abstract painting in the works of Chinese artist reflected in the technique of “chaotic brush”, which is based on the expressive linear abstractions. In the period after 2018, which marks the period of experimental painting, Zeng Fanzhi combines the artistic methods of Paul Cézanne with the concept of traditional Chinese art, with the “found object” technique, offering a completely new interpretation of the works of Chinese classical painting. The article discusses the specificities of linear constructs and brush strokes in the artist’s works for determining the features common to his works of various periods. A conclusion is made that the paintings of Zeng Fanzhi represents a visual manifestation of harmonious interaction of the Western European and Chinese art tradition. Each stylistic approach used by Zeng Fanzhi demonstrates a profound understanding of painting, reveals his creative interpretation of artistic principles of Western European art that formed as a result of personal experience and high level of education. Chinese painting entered the era of non-modernism, remaining in many ways similar and simultaneously different from the art of Western modernism and postmodernism.

Abstract: This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the visualized ego-image of the artist with grinning face as the key character of Yue Minjun’s paintings – one of the prominent representatives of cynical realism trend in Chinese contemporary painting. The image is interpreted through the prism of Chinese socialism, Eastern and Western art traditions.  The author describes in detail the works from different series, determines typical features of individual manners, and compares works for revealing the common to cynical realism set of artistic means. The article elucidates the concept of interaction of the techniques of Western and Chinese paining using the particular examples, including Yue Minjun’s thoughts on the psychology of art overall, their analysis, and conclusions formulated for more profound understanding of his artworks. Yue Minjun opts for the diverse expressive means and game approaches depending on the goal: symbols of mass culture, recognizable classical themes of Western European painting, computer technologies, cartographic representations, as well as subjective mental images – for creating certain visual symbols carrying on a dialogue with the audience. The concept of his works consists in the ironic attitude to life underlying the cynical realism. It is evident that the modern Chinese paining entered the era of bie-modern.

Abstract: This article examines the artworks of Zhang Xiaogang as a prominent representative of the modern Chinese painting, peculiarities of his mastery formed in different periods of his creative path under the dual influence of Chinese and Western painting. Transformation and evolution of painting concepts and formal artistic means, claimed in the painter’s “Bloodline-Big Family” series, demonstrate how the “own historical memory” forms new expressive forms of painting. The author compares the interaction of forms and languages in the Western and Chinese painting, as well as analyzes characteristics of the structure of brush strokes of the painter in different periods for showing the formation of the inner spiritual essence. It proves that the clash of concepts of the Western and Chinese painting generated new artistic phenomena, which represent a result of assimilation of painting concepts and “localization” of formal language. The mutual influence of two cultures lead to origination of multiple ideas of plasticity and artistic forms. China has entered the period of “non-modernism”.