Final answer:
Artists like Tan Teng-pho can be inspired by various factors, including aesthetic style, political beliefs, and personal experiences. Political and social changes have historically influenced the art and styles of artists, with some reflecting their personal beliefs and ideals in their work.
Step-by-step explanation:
Artists like Tan Teng-pho are often inspired by their own personal experiences, the cultural and political milieu in which they live, and their internal emotional landscapes. While some artists find muse in their aesthetic style or personal lives, many artists from various periods in history, including the transition from the Ming to Qing Dynasty in China, have been influenced by the social and political changes surrounding them.
Their art can become a method of expression and reflection of their beliefs, aspirations, and reactions to societal shifts. This is evident in the way that some artists expressed themselves through calligraphy and painting during the Qing Dynasty, with individualists potentially diverging from traditional paths to follow their ideals, which could have been politically motivated or more personally expressive.
For instance, the Abstract Expressionists shared common artistic interests but also held strong convictions often based on Marxist ideas of social and economic equality. These artists were not overtly political in their aesthetic style, but their beliefs influenced their art. Similarly, Zeng Fanzhi, a renowned Chinese artist, developed his unique style while also grappling with the requirements of Socialist Realism, illustrating the complex interplay between personal expression and political influence in art.