Art Across Cultures: What Illustrators Can Learn from Global Traditions
Illustration represents the intricacies of each culture all over the world. It's a universal language that transcends linguistic barriers and brings people from different backgrounds together. According to Eurostat, over half of residents across 15 EU countries participated in cultural activities in 2022. These included going to the cinema, participating in cultural events, and going to various historical sites. This means people are still interested in maintaining their cultures and learning more about other traditions.
Illustration mirrors not only the cultures of different countries but also the communities with their rich history and a vast tapestry of traditions and values. If we dive deeper into illustrations from various countries, we will find the elements that are unique to them only. Let's explore the intersection of culture and illustration and what illustrators can learn from the world's most popular traditions.
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Global Traditions in Illustration
Each culture has its folklore and mythology that often become the basis of illustration along with traditional textiles and intricate patterns. Artists integrate all these elements into their works, creating unique designs and fascinating storytelling that allows the viewers to take a glimpse into the cultural heritage and personal history of each illustrator. When artists incorporate cultural themes in their work, they involuntarily create a dialogue between the familiar and the exotic, encouraging the audience to expand their cultural horizons and views.
As a result, they create a sense of global community that fosters an exchange of traditions and worldviews, while preserving and celebrating the world's heritage. If you want to have a deeper understanding of how art reflects culture, you can listen to different-level online talks and lectures.
How Culture Influences Technique
Illustrators from different cultural backgrounds use various techniques to convey the subtleties of each tradition with its specific use of color, landscapes that can be seen in a particular country or area, and patterns that are widely used within a certain culture. For example, artists can use specific palettes that can evoke a feeling of a country, a cultural festival, or even a place.
Traditional motifs always add a layer of depth to any contemporary work, creating a sense of multi-dimensional storytelling that transcends borders and time. Illustrators can incorporate various techniques to enrich their works, such as hand drawing, collage, calligraphy, and even digital painting using symbols from various countries. As a result, artists bring the attention of the audience to the nuances of other traditions, creating a cross-cultural dialogue.
Japanese Illustration Tradition
Japanese art styles have remained unchanged for centuries due to the fact that the country has been isolated from the cultural impact of other communities for a long time. Japanese art is revered all over the world for its rich historical background and aesthetic beauty. Among the traditional Japanese painting styles, there are a few that stand out the most - "Kano", "Yamato-e", and "Nihonga".
The most common themes in general are natural landscapes and human activity. Japanese art is also heavily influenced by its philosophy - yūgen, which is a feeling of grace and subtlety, and wabi-sabi - an amalgam of natural aging and beauty that is a leitmotif of many Japanese art pieces.
Yamato-e
This art style is characterized by allusions to Japanese history and literature pieces. Yamato-e is usually associated with the natural motifs and the four seasons. Paintings done in this style can also depict Buddhist themes, such as the 'Illustrated Life of Shinran,' a Japanese monk. This style usually focuses on the stylistic depiction of human expressions and uses thick, bright pigments while depicting the building's interiors.
Kanō
Named after the painter Kano Masanobu, this art style is reminiscent of the Chinese painting style used in Zen Buddhist temples. This art style focuses on Zen patriarchs and natural motifs, along with figures that evoke a sense of power like huge animals and gorgeous natural vistas. As far as technique is concerned, the early kanō painting mostly used ink and clean brushstrokes. Later, brighter colors were added, too.
African and Caribbean Traditions
The history of Afro-Carribbean art is an amalgam of all the influences the Caribbean underwent throughout history. Its cultural mix reflects the colonization by Europeans that overwhelmed the art scene, burying the Creole identity they were not so interested in exploring. Advertised for its 'primitive' art forms, the Caribbean attracted prominent artists such as Wilfredo Lam, Edna Manley, and Richmond Barthe who chased the vibe of Paul Gauguin, searching for their own cultural identity.
Later on, the Creole community explored local themes along with landscape painting and traditional portraits. It's a mix of Art Deco, Impressionist, and Post-Impressionist styles that merged into one, often combining in one piece of art. Artisans also tend to find inspiration in African art and its spiritual roots, relying on culture-appropriate patterns, flat forms, and unique textile designs to create new artworks.
Indian and Persian Miniatures
Indian miniatures date back as far as the 9th century, becoming a truly popular art style during the Mughal empire that lasted up to 1957 CE. A lot of Persian artists were invited to the Mughal court, promoting a cultural exchange between illustrators from different countries, and creating a synthesis of Indo-Persian style. These miniatures were often influenced by Persian literature and even words from various texts were used as visual elements along the borders of such paintings. As a rule, three artists worked on one painting, having various specialties.
The first one took care of the foundation, while the second one applied all the colors, giving life to the painting. The last one, a specialist in portraits, would depict all the facial expressions, creating real masterpieces. Later, more Indian themes were incorporated into the paintings, shifting from a Persian flat style to a three-dimensional depiction of historical events and characters from various texts.
Chinese Calligraphy and Fine Arts
In China, calligraphy has been considered a form of art for hundreds of years and is often more valued than even painting. It's always been a means of self-expression and served as a medium to show off one's sense of taste, aesthetics, and literary prowess. Calligraphy as we know it today was perfected as an art form during the Han dynasty (206 B.C.E.) along with the traditional instruments used by calligraphers such as inkstone, paper, brush, and ink itself. The brushes used for calligraphy range in size and can be made from different types of animal hair, yet all of them are flexible to create a beautiful fluid line while writing.
Calligraphy is considered a means of interaction between the writer and the viewer, who is able to retrace the strokes and brush movements of the creator and, thus, communicate with them via their work, getting to know both their personality and the mood they were in when creating the painting. The nuances of execution are always highly valued, along with the individual style that develops over time.
Modern Illustrators and Different Cultures
Artists can greatly broaden their horizons both in terms of technique and storytelling by delving into the cultures they want to know more about. They can boost their cross-cultural creativity by implementing techniques that are popular in various countries with their distinctive art styles. Let's look at some tips illustrators can use to broaden their artistic horizons.
Explore many cultures. The easiest way to discover other cultures is by reading books, watching movies, and traveling to various countries. One can also engage with cultural communities in their cities and hometowns.
Do thorough research. Artists should strive to avoid stereotypes when using techniques or elements of storytelling from other cultures. It's good to conduct thorough research to avoid repetition and to better understand the historical background of various symbols and patterns.
Contact cultural experts. Ask for advice and learn from the individuals who represent different cultures. Collaborating with experts allows you to have a deeper insight into the history of a certain community while fostering a fruitful cultural exchange.
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