A Contemporary View of the Aesthetic Lifestyle of the Shared Community in China

Date
2018
Authors
Jiang, Yun
Supervisor
Ho, King Tong
Item type
Research Project
Degree name
Master of Design
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Auckland University of Technology
Abstract

The aim of this research project is to explore alternative visual narrative strategies for the conceptual manifestation of a contemporary Chinese aesthetic lifestyle of a popular shared community in China. Referring to the ideological content of the traditional Chinese story, The Land of Peach Blossom (Tao Yuanming, 421) [桃花源记], it is the vehicle in which to inquire into China’s traditional aesthetic lifestyle. Illustration is the medium of the practice, primarily referring to both traditional and contemporary Chinese aesthetics in exploring the visual narrative strategies. The methodology centres on me, reflecting on the on-going development of my practice and its inter-connection with the data collected, the contextual review and the visual strategies that I have developed. They foster a systematic structure to progressively generate a contemporary view of how to define ‘home’ and its aesthetic lifestyle in the era of a shared economy of today’s younger generations. An aesthetic lifestyle is defined in this project as an appreciation of the environment in our daily life. It is a spiritual pursuit to balance or ease the tension of the material life. Lin Yutang (1937) called it “the art of living”. The main research output consists of a series of illustrations which feature 13 story themes and 15 works. They have been composed to become an animated work to representing the creative resolution of the project.

Description
Keywords
Aesthetic lifestyle , Shared community , Chinese aesthetic , Art of living , Home , Aesthetic
Source
DOI
Publisher's version
Rights statement