HISTORIOGRAPHY OF THE STUDY ON ART WORKS OF THE CHINESE ARTIST-CERAMIST GU JINGZHOU (END OF XX – BEGINNING OF XXI CENTURY)
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to explore the historiography of the ceramist Gu Jingzhou (1915-1996), the representative of Yixing ware, or Yixing Zi Sha, of the XX century, conducted from the end of the XX century to the beginning of the XXI century in China.
Research methodology. Fifteen major publications on the subject (books, scientific journal and newspaper articles) have been reviewed. Six main research directions have been summarized from the studies conducted by various scholars in China and other countries in the world.
Results. In the 1980 s and 1990 s, the study of works of Gu Jingzhou was started in Hong Kong and Taiwan based on economic prosperity, which brought the boom of tea culture and interest in Yixing Zi Sha teapots. Gu Jingzhou, as the most well-known ceramist of Yixing Zi Sha and the leader of Zi Sha factory in Yixing, was invited to Hong Kong and Taiwan to take part in the exhibitions and give lectures on Yixing Zi Sha. After the 2000 s with the fast economic development of the China mainland, Chinese people started to pay more attention to arts, as a result, the art market got boomed, including Yixing Zi Sha. Ceramic works of Gu Jingzhou were popular in different auctions and often sold with new records, which led the experts and scholars to more deeply and comprehensively study the works of Gu Jingzhou.
The article analyzes six areas of research on Gu Jingzhou's ceramic works, conducted by Chinese and a few foreign scientists and experts from the beginning of the 1980s till now. It refers to the tradition of Yixing Zi Sha; the litterateur factors in Yixing Zi Sha; the art style of ceramics teapots of Zi Sha Gu Jingzhou; the continuation of the Gu Jingzhou school of making teapots of Yixing Zi Sha; Gu Jingzhou's contribution to the Yixing ceramics of Zi Sha; consideration and critiques of the frequent record-breaking sales of Gu Jingzhou's works at auctions.
The article points out that the research on the works of the ceramist Gu Jingzhou has been mainly carried out by scholars and artists in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. In other countries, his name was mentioned only in short or generalized studies of the Yixing Zi Sha.
Novelty. It notes the attention of scientific circles to the works of Gu Jingzhou in the world and the lack of understanding of him, in particular in Ukraine, outlines the relevance of the further analysis of his work in the context of globalization and intercultural communication.
The practical significance. In recent years artistic exchanges between China and Ukraine are becoming more frequent, but the people from the two countries are not very familiar with the other country’s arts. The paper brings a new kind of ceramics to the Ukrainian art circle to enrich the scope of Ukrainian art studies.
