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Zhang Xiaogang, 'Bloodline (Two comrades with red baby)', 1995

Image Zhang Xiaogang, 'Bloodline (Two comrades with red baby)', 1995

TLF ID M014311

This is a painting by Chinese artist Zhang Xiaogang (b1958) depicting two parents and a child. The painting is shown as an enlargeable image. Text onscreen gives information about the context and intention of the work of art, critical of the one-child policy in China, as well as a comprehensive visual analysis explaining the symbolism of the red tone, the baby girl and the stark family portrayal. The painting measures 150.0 cm high x 180.0 cm wide and was painted with oil on canvas.

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Educational details

Educational value
  • The resource is useful for the Asia and Australia's engagement with Asia cross-curriculum priority. The work explores the culture, society and traditions of China and the effects of the one-child policy on people's lives. It links to the priority's organising ideas about the diverse countries of Asia and about the arts and literature of Asia influencing aesthetic and creative pursuits within Australia, the region and globally.
  • This is an excellent resource for the Responding strand in the visual arts curriculum for the year bands from 5-6 to 9-10, especially for those content descriptions that refer to considering the broader context of arts works, such as the social, cultural and historical contexts, and role of the artist and of the audience/s. As the supporting text points out, traditionally Chinese families were extended ones but the one-child policy - a population-control measure - has placed more importance on the immediate family.
Year level

5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10

Topics Regional art Australian art Cultural imperialism Cultural interaction Arts industry Composition (Visual arts) Artists Art exhibitions Visual arts Art movements Art materials Culture Visual arts portfolios Audiences Chinese art Mixed media Communism Cultural contexts Historical settings (Narratives) Social settings (Narratives) Cultural awareness Cultural identity Multimedia Narratives Symbols Oil painting Settings (Narratives) Symbolism (Art movements) Art themes Artistic purpose
Learning area
  • The Arts
  • Visual Arts

Other details

Contributors
  • Contributor
  • Name: Education Services Australia
  • Organization: Education Services Australia
  • Description: Data manager
  • Address: VIC, AUSTRALIA
  • URL: http://www.esa.edu.au/
  • Person: Zhang Xiaogang
  • Description: Artist
  • Copyright Holder
  • Name: National Gallery of Australia
  • Organization: National Gallery of Australia
  • Address: ACT, AUSTRALIA
  • URL: http://nga.gov.au/
  • Person: Zhang Xiaogang
  • Publisher
  • Name: National Gallery of Australia
  • Organization: National Gallery of Australia
  • Description: Publisher
  • Address: ACT, AUSTRALIA
  • URL: http://nga.gov.au/
  • Resource metadata contributed by
  • Name: Education Services Australia Ltd
  • Organisation: Education Services Australia Ltd
  • Address: AUSTRALIA
  • URL: www.esa.edu.au
Access profile
  • Unknown
Learning Resource Type
  • Image
  • Text
Rights
  • Resource: © National Gallery of Australia 2013 (except where otherwise indicated). Image: © Zhang Xiaogang. This material may be used, reproduced, published, communicated and adapted free of charge for non-commercial educational purposes until 30 June 2018, provided all copyright notices and acknowledgements are retained.