Между традицией и инновацией: трансформация художественного языка китайской реалистической живописи в начале XXI века

Between Tradition and Innovation: The Transformation of the Artistic Language of Chinese Realist Painting in the Early 21st Century

This article explores the evolution of Chinese realistic painting in the context of urbanization, digitalization, and institutional shifts at the beginning of the 21st century. The study aims to identify and systematize the main directions of transformation of the artistic language of Chinese realism. The analysis is based on the works of Xu Lei, Yu Hong, Liu Xiaodong, as well as exhibition catalogs and curatorial texts. Through visual analysis of representative works and interpretation of artistic language, the study identifies the main paths of transformation and strategies of expression at the intersection of tradition and innovation. The methodological framework combines historical-genetic and comparative-historical analysis, formal and stylistic analysis of compositions, color, line, and spatial structures, as well as contextual and iconological analysis situating the works within biographical, social, and philosophical contexts. A structural-typological method is applied to classify the three identified vectors of renewal. First, a visual analysis of key works was conducted; second, a structural‑typological method was applied to identify three vectors of renewal; and third, these vectors were interpreted in institutional and media contexts. The research shows that while masters preserve traditional techniques such as ink painting and gongbi, they adapt them to screen-based optics, photographic framing, and museum-curatorial formats. A typology of the renewal of Chinese realism's artistic language is proposed, which includes intermedia adaptation, thematic expansion (addressing gender, migration, and ecology), and an "experiential" perspective that shifts the emphasis from mimetic accuracy toward the experience of time and environment. The analysis demonstrates that these changes do not negate the fundamental spirit of realism but rather enhance its analytical potential and social reflexivity. As a result, realism articulates more precisely the contradictory spiritual atmosphere of contemporary society, maintaining continuity while acquiring new meanings compatible with current visual habits of audiences. The practical significance consists in refining research criteria and supporting curatorial decisions when working with realistic projects in contemporary museums. The findings open several avenues for further research: in-depth study of each of the three vectors across a broader range of authors and regional schools; comparative analysis with realist painting in other Asian and post-socialist contexts; and investigation of how emerging digital formats redefine the boundaries of the realist method.