Chinese Folk Arts Characteristics

It is also necessary to address some misinterpretations in defining the concept of Chinese folk art:

Firstly, the notion to characterize Chinese folk art as "willful creations." Willfulness can be found in Chinese paintings, art work and art style of career artists or professionals. It is not a definition of folk art. On the other hand, there is a variety of categories and diverse art styles irt folk art. They are not all willful creations.

Secondly, "change of appearance" is the basic feature. I disagree. Change of appearance is not an exclusive technique employed in Chinese folk art. It is used by career artists too. In modern art, the style of changing appearance attempts to lead the trend of its time. The issue is not the appearance, or the change; it is to show what and how to change. The change of appearance in Chinese folk art is determined by the original Chinese philosophical comprehension, art system andits aesthetic view, apart from the art of Chinese professionals, and intrinsically different from tile fashionable trend in modern western art.

Thirdly, learning from folk art, some professional artist created some art works with folk art style. They tend to characterize the work as folk art and label themselves as folk artists. It is actually a mis-conception that overlooked the fact that folk art is the art of the working class people. It is created by a group of massive laborers to serve the needs of their own social life. Even those art work did bear the artistic effect of folk art; it is still modern art by professional artists.

Fourthly, folk art differentiates from folk arts and crafts. The arts and crafts is a sector of folk art involving intensive craftsmanship, some are even consummate products. Folk art may not all have the same value or the craftsmanship as arts and crafts. They are two parts of the same category.

Lastly, folk art and folk custom art. Folk custom is the carrier of folk art.

We speak of folk art from the angle of art; whereas folk custom art is in the view of the custom.