Art Assessment
Art Assessment
In my recent visit to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, I was gravitated towards the beauty of a Chinese plate painted in white and blue. It is called the Foliated Platter, which measures about 15 to 18 inches in diameter. It is made out of porcelain and painted with white and blue feathery wave motif surrounding the plate's rim. The inner section of the plate’s design features 6 nicely shaped cloud-like figures that are symmetrical in shape and size as well as their position between each other. They give the impression of an Islam’s organic design that we normally see in Islamic mosques.
The only difference of each of these cloud-like figures is their pattern. They all look similar in a way but their pattern of design is quite unique from each other. A couple of them look very floral in design flaunting China’s popular flower, the Lotus. This form of art might symbolize a region in China where Lotus is in abundance or perhaps represent a group or even a state much like the Palette of Narmer, which features two distinct plants symbolizing two regions. The other cloud-like figures contains different abstracted produce and alternating crops that might again represent the richness of China’s regional success.
There is also an abstracted fiery background that surrounds the cloud-like figures, which appears to burn an eternal flame. The center of the plate features round partitions containing auspicious symbols. These symbols might represent a significant meaning that may be influential to the Chinese culture. I’m not quite sure what they are but it probably acts as a directive in some way for the Chinese people.