Art of the Natural World

Prized for over a millennium by Chinese literati, scholars' rocks--stones sculpted by the elements into richly detailed miniature landscapes--have long been objects of contemplation, inspiration and ever-changing beauty. This succinct, elegantly designed volume offers a meditation by the noted artist and collector Richard Rosenbaum on the philosophy and spirit of Chinese natural art, from scholars' rocks to similarly-fashioned objects in wood, metal and ceramic--as well as such reverse manifestations as works sculpted to replicate natural art. In a style that is at once informal and passionately engaged, Rosenblum discusses the history and use of natural art, the influence it has had on his own work, and, beyond this, the wider philosophical issues it raises--about artistic perception, the context of an art object and what ultimately distinguishes and constitutes a work of art. Centuries before Duchamp's snow shovel first hung on a gallery wall, Chinese natural art was challenging received notions about artistic creation and response. A book for scholars, artists and thinkers alike, Art of the Natural World is an indispensable commentary on the art of nature and the nature of art.