中国神兽艺术形象的美学特征与发展现状

Aesthetic Attributes and Contemporary Development of the Artistic Images of Chinese Mythical Animals

神兽形象在原始时代便已诞生,在世界各民族的早期文明中普遍存在并扮演着重要角色。中华文明历经数千年发展,在传统艺术领域涌现出诸多具有独特文化寓意和社会功能的神兽艺术形象,带有浓厚的民族艺术色彩,呈现出生物性与文化性密切结合、审美价值与实用功能高度统一、形似与神似并重三方面的美学特征。在科技化和全球化迅猛袭来、产业化和娱乐化空前发展的当代文化背景下,中国神兽形象呈现出国际化与时尚化的演变趋势,具备了更广阔的成长空间,发展出了新的美学形态和艺术价值;但同时,中国神兽形象在继承传统艺术和融入时代元素的过程中也面临着趋同化与重复化的困境。

The images of mythical animals were shaped in the primitive society,and have played a significant role in the early civilization of all nations around the world.In Chinese civilization,which has existed for thousands of years,there have emerged a large number of artistic images of mythical animals with specific cultural connotations and social functions in the field of traditional art.These images are of distinctive Chinese artistic styles,being characterized by three aesthetic attributes:the integration of biological and cultural factors,the unification of aesthetic value and practical function,and the emphasis on both form and spirit.In contemporary society,the science technology,globalization,industrialization and entertainment are unprecedentedly developed.Under such cultural context,the images of Chinese mythical animals have evolved a trend of internationalization and fashion,which brings a broader space to grow,and some new aesthetic forms and values are thus developed.Meanwhile,in the progress of inheriting traditions and integrating with fashions,the images of Chinese mythical animals are facing the dilemma of being assimilated and repeated.