In 1953 the People’s Republic of China started implementing their first 5-year plan. Just as there was major importation of Soviet models in industry, technology, education and so on, so was there importation of Soviet models in art. Since the 1950s, Soviet art theory was being translated to Chinese and published in official art journals to guide artists. Artists, arts administrators and officials were also visiting the USSR, and reporting back on what they had learned. Even after ties with the Soviet Union deteriorated, the influence of Soviet Socialist Realism would remain, and even spread beyond oil painting to other forms of art, such as woodblock prints or propaganda posters. This book explores that influence.
Images:
"Remembering the 30th anniversary of the publication of Chairman Mao's glorious "Talks at the Yan'an Forum on Literature and Art"" *
"Revolution to the End!" *
"Industry and Construction", Green Bridge, Vilnius, Lithuania
“Let philosophy become a sharp weapon in the hands of the people” *
Statue at USSR Pavilion, 1939-40 New York’s World Fair
Mikhail Kostin – “In the Stalin Factory”
Quan Shanshi – “Unyielding Heroism”
Isaak Brodsky – “Stalin”
Jin Shangyi – “Mao Zedong at the December Meeting”
Wu Yunhua – “Mao Inspects Wushun Opencut Coal Mine”
Aleksandr Gerasimov – “Lenin on the Rostrum”
Georgi Nissky - “Off to Defend Moscow on the Leningradskoe Chausee”
Shen Jiawei – “Standing Guard for our Great Fatherland”
"Work Hard, Rely on Oneself, Build our Fatherland" *
"Learn Every Day, Apply Every Day" *
* Poster, artist unknown
