Broken branches
mixed media installation 2020-2023
Broken branches 折枝: Some branches, from some trees, otherwise would live or die in nature, free，are gathered, near and far, resurrected, from ground up, and Sacrificed In suffocating constriction, to embody the sufferings that so many, so many, were forced to endure, during the year of 20, 20...
Absurdity: Continuation of Lines in space. . . A jump from reaction to the fallen branches to reflection on reshaping memories – memories of nature? collective memories of humanity? A surrealist absurdity or gibberish that embodies the willfulness of any unchecked power …
Wandering Souls
Mixed media installation 2018 -
One morning in early November of 2018, I saw that a study of frame I made the night before somehow fell onto the floor, forming a shape of seemingly continuing linear movement. It offered a possibility of lines moving through space. Certainly it reminded me of what I have often asked my drawing students to observe that drawing lines represent various spatial locations. This prompted me to experiment with lines in space while drawing inspirations from my course Art 370 Lines in Chinese Art. I began to investigate the chances of constructing 3D Chinese pictographs with laminated wood strips, which has led me to imaging a space where these ancient pictographs rise from dusty pages or drift in air, being free or being homeless.
Drawings
A small group samples of many drawings I did in classes.
The first two long term drawings in pencil were done in China, others are quick sketches within 20 minutes done in class
Paintings
A sample of works in oil on canvas or panels
Painting is the trace of the painter's heart, at least that is the case to me. Living in America allows me to explore freely new perspectives. Most of my paintings have been reflections of conversations between me and my shadow, about fragmentation and dislocation, and the urge to rebuild from ground up. Looking back now, I see that my indulgence in those meticulous trompe l'oeil paintings for over two decades after I came to the US, might be repeated attempts to pick up the broken pieces of my fragmented life, and try to stitch them together in various senses. The lengthy and demanding process of painting of any sort enables me to tour through the jungle of thoughts and emotions, to feel the texture of my experiences. It is more than any technical satisfaction; rather, it is a pursuit of an idealistic perfection that might exist only in dreams.
February Wind
A group of kinetic paintings intend to spread plain joy and fan breeze of simplicity.
Papercut
It came from a dream where I saw a cat playing poker cards.
A winter trip in 1984
In the first half of senior year I went to the snowy village in the northeastern corner of China to seek inspirations and gather visual materials preparing for my graduation thesis show. The temperature in the Great Xingan mountains 大兴安岭was so low that the shutter of the camera I brought with me was frozen. I had no choice but relying on a pencil and sheets of paper. During a month of traveling from Ewenke 鄂温克ethnic winter camp to the Genhe 根河lumber company camp ended in the Lower Yanggeqi 下央格气village, I documented what I saw in an album consists of sketches and illustrated traveling notes of total of 72 pages.
A Crystal World
A Crystal World was exhibited in 1985 as part of my BFA thesis, a work directly as a result of this aforementioned winter trip to the Great Xing-An mountains (大兴安岭.) This painting was done in ink and mineral paints on synthetic fabric, composed in five panels.
