As one of the significant elements of the ancient Chinese culture, traditional folk patterns are full of ethnic symbols and amazing aesthetic appeal. The modern oil painting has seen the adaptation and use of these folk motifs not merely give an unending inspiration and to the artists, the oil painting is given a new life as well as a new dimension of culture. It is observed that the assimilation of the traditional patterns to the contemporary oil painting methods does not only encourage the passing of culture but also encourages innovations and breakthrough in the visual language. In this paper, I examine the artistic features and cultural implications of traditional folk motifs, discuss their transformation of routes in oil paintings and, using factual example of the art, show how the motifs can illuminate once more in oil paintings. The paper concludes that the metamorphosis of the traditional patterns is not simply the alteration of visual image, but the deep re-creation of cultural connotation. Finally, it looks into the prospective development of folk patterns in oil painting and their distinct value in the modern art.
Gao Xingping (Wed,) studied this question.