• Journal of Science of Art and Design
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• v.7
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• pp.128-149
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• 2005

Zou Si Cong is a very significant female artist from the period when China was forming its modern arts and culture. Zou Si Cong, who was influenced by China's political and social upheaval, was born in 1939 and died in 1996. Her actual work period was after China's 'Cultural Revolution' and lasted only 13 years, from 1978 to 1990. Her passion for art never stopped, even when she was suffering from severe arthritis with its torturing pain. There were big changes that occurred in her work; 'Early Work', 'Realistic Work', 'Mine Worker Painting', 'Yi Tribe' Painting', 'Lotus Paintings'. 'Mine Worker Painting', which represented a new figure by abandoning traditional techniques, dividing picture space, and changing and distorting forms, was the one that had the greatest impact of all on a lot of people and strongly influenced modern Chinese figurative painting. The characteristics of Zou Si Cong's work are in its 'Traditionalism', 'Realism, and 'Historical' aspects. Zou Si Cong developed her uniqueness, along with Western expressions, based on traditional Chinese painting techniques. Realism, through realistic rendering, appeared in her figurative paintings during the Cultural Revolution Period. 'Yi Tribe' paintings lively illustrated their lives. She creatively reinterpreted history in the composition of Mine Workers, which is based on the historical record of Chinese barbarity.