抽象表現主義與中國美學

Abstract

There are indications of a direct connection between Abstract Expressionism and East Asian art (esp. Chinese art), a theory this article explores. The Abstract Expressionists worked in different styles, yet they shared a more or less similar aesthetic. Linking their works not only to each other but to East Asian art and philosophy is the concept of the union of humanity and nature; a palette consisting mainly of black and white; and a painting method characterized by gestural painting methods such as pouring paint or wielding the brush at arm's length techniques — that deliberately cultivate spontaneity and eliminate human control. Documented facts, critical observations, and parallel phenomena are presented in this essay to clarity the affinities that in the past have been overlooked. The discussion covers three major areas: the Daoist concept of Oneness, Zen and other Chinese aesthetic elements, and black-and-white painting and calligraphy.