On Cai Gao's "New Folk" Picture Books

CaiGao,as a creator,play an important role in the development of Chinese contemporary picturebooks.She has done the job for thirty years since the 1980 s.CaiGao's works not only show folk stories and folk spirit,but also demonstrates her contemporary feelings and philosophy.Based on drawing folk art features and western classic picturebooks' skill,CaiGao is committed to develop a manner of her own.This kind of picturebooks which based on the background of folk culture and filled with contemporary feelings or self-thinkings can be regarded as CaiGao's “New Folk”picturebooks.The object of this paper is CaiGao's “New Folk” picturebooks,which will be discussed from four aspects,including the introduction.The introduction part tells the background and value of the topic,the current research,and gives a definition of CaiGao's “New Folk” picturebooks.The first chapter discusses the breeding of picturebooks from folk culture,including folk theme,folk art and folk spirit.The second chapter tells the New factors beyond the folk culture,namely the modern picturebooks art and contemporary spirit,including the combination strategy of folk and modern.The third chapter is about the value and significance of CaiGao's picturebooks.First of all,she puts modern vigor into the tradition.Secondly,she shows the pursuit of truth,goodness and beauty about the human nature.At last,she makes readers to recognize picturebooks,which has an important enlightenment for creation and research of picturebooks.