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Art on Screen Databasetm Full Record |
| Click here to see an illustration from the film. |
| Title: | DAY ON THE GRAND CANAL WITH THE EMPEROR OF CHINA OR SURFACE IS ILLUSION BUT SO IS DEPTH, A |
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| Alternate Title: | DAY ON THE GRAND CANAL WITH THE EMPEROR OF CHINA, A |
| Original Title: | |
| Series Title: | |
| Edition Version: | Short version (116 min. version also avail.) |
| Data: | 46 min. col. 16mm; video |
| Year: | 1988 |
| Country of Prod'n: | United States |
| Language: | English |
| Producing Agency: | Program for Art on Film, a joint venture of The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the J. Paul Getty Trust |
| Sources: | New Yorker Films; artsAmerica (Video sales); Facets Multimedia (Video sales); Milestone Film and Video (Video); Mystic Fire Video, Inc. (Video sales); Films Incorporated Video; Viewfinders, Inc. (Video sales) |
| Int'l Sources: | |
| Director: | Philip Haas |
| Producer: | Philip Haas |
| Executive Producer: | |
| Writer: | David Hockney |
| Camera: | Curtis Clark |
| Editor: | Curtiss Clayton |
| Narrator: | David Hockney |
| Animator: | |
| Music Composer: | Marc Wilkinson |
| Art Consultant: | David Hockney; Maxwell K. Hearn |
| Researcher: | |
| Addl Credits: | Asst. Camera: Mark Karen; Still Photog.: Jerry Sohn |
| Cast: | |
| Synopsis: | British artist David Hockney (b.1937) shares his insights and enthusiasm as he guides viewers along a Chinese scroll painting entitled The Kangxi Emperor's Southern Inspection Tour (1691-1698), scroll seven. The complete scroll, 72 feet long by 2-1/2 feet high, commemorates the emperor's second tour of his southern empire in 1689. Painted by Wang Hui (1632-1717) and assistants, it was executed before Western perspective was introduced into Chinese art. Hockney contrasts the more fluid spatial depictions of this scroll with a later scroll painted by Xu Yang and assistants, The Qianlong Emperor's Southern Inspection Tour (1764-1770), scroll four. It illustrates the same tour, but now taken by the Qianlong emperor, grandson of the Kangxi emperor. Influenced by Western perspective, the Qianlong scroll presents the emperor in a single tableau, whereas the Kangxi scroll depicts a continuous travel narrative filled with details of daily life in the towns and countryside along the route. Reference is also made to the use of perspective in Capriccio: Plaza San Marco Looking South and West (1763) by Italian painter Canaletto (1697-1768). A film by director Philip Haas and David Hockney. |
| Genre Film: | Criticism |
| Aud./Grade Level: | High School; College/University; Adult |
| Suggested Uses: | General Information |
| Subject Headings: | Asian art -- Asia -- China -- 17C 1690D 18C 1760D Chinese art -- Qing -- Asia -- China -- 17C 1690D 18C 1760D Painting -- Chinese -- Asia -- China -- 17C 1690D 18C 1760D Aesthetics -- North America -- United States -- 20C |
| Assoc Concepts: | Perspective |
| Artist's Name: | Hockney, David (b.1937), British painter; printmaker; photographer; collagist; Xu Yang, (18C), Chinese painter; Wang, Hui (1632-1717), Chinese painter |
| Artist on Camera: | No |
| Reviews: | New York Times, 13 Jan 93; Video Rating Guide for Libraries, Winter 92; New York Times, 10 Oct 91; Landers Film & Video Reviews, Winter 91; Library Journal, 15 Nov 88; Booklist, 15 Nov 88; Audiovisual Reviews, 15 Nov 88; New York Times, 15 Apr 88; Village Voice, 22 Mar 88; New York Times, 19 Mar 88; Village Voice, 17 Mar 88; New York Times, 11 Mar 88; The Sunday Times Magazine (London), 21 Feb 88; Smithsonian, Feb 88; L.A. Style, Feb 88 |
| Awards: | |
| Evaluation: | Clear, effective, delightful. Looking at the art with this important contemporary artist is refreshing and fascinating, and there is striking unity between the concept and technical aspects of the production. Hockney's commentary is personal and idiomatic; he is articulate and engaging. Precision without pretension; low-key appreciation of human elements in the narrative. Comparative approach is excellent, contrasting two very different visions and styles of painting. Focuses on multiple-viewpoint perspective rather than other aspects such as color subtleties and brushwork. Some evaluators took issue with Hockney's theories on perspective and objected to "invidious" comparisons with Western art. Film is successful in provoking thought about the art and helping us to sell it. Presenting the work of art as a whole is a considerable challenge in the case of a scroll; we see it better here than one ever could in a museum (unless one had many hours of access). The use of dissolves was somewhat problematic for certain viewers and several evaluators found the Western music obtrusive. Technical quality very good. Content and programming potential both very good to superior. |
| Comments: |