Primitive Charm and Vernacular Vision: A Cross-Aesthetic Analysis of “Naive Taste” in Dali Bai Jiama Prints

Abstract

Jiama art is deeply influenced by the local ethnic minorities’ primitive customs and beliefs, creating its unique visual style: an improvisational style that is full of childlike interest. It is now in a difficult situation due to insufficient attention to local folk art, facing the dilemma of being lost and little known. To better protect and pass on the Dali Bai Jiama, this paper aimed to 1) explore the background and development of the Dali Bai Jiama culture; 2) analyze the characteristics of the Dali Bai Jiama motifs; and 3) analyze the visual style of the Dali Bai Jiama, which was “Naive Taste." The data collection tools were a literature review and a field survey. Combined with Wölfflin's theory of formal analysis, the researchers sorted out the historical origin of the Dali Bai Jiama, summarized its production and usage, and systematically explored and analyzed its unique “Naive Taste” visual style. The results of the study were as follows: 1) Jiama culture had a long history, and it was used to satisfy the needs of the Dali Bai people's inner beliefs; 2) Jiama had unique pattern characteristics, where the generation of the pattern was closely related to the cultural bearer and the embodiment of cultural values; and 3) Jiama featured a “Naive Taste” visual style, which could provide a continuous source of inspiration for other arts. These research findings trace the history, pattern characteristics, and distinctive visual style of Jiama, laying the groundwork for the preservation and inheritance of Jiama cultural heritage. They simultaneously demonstrate the multifaceted potential of traditional culture as both an inspiration and a cultural vehicle within contemporary artistic creation.