“Boat” (2015), Xuan (rice) paper, bamboo, cotton threads, 18 x 7 meters. All images courtesy of the artist and Pearl Lam Galleries, shared with permission
More than 12,000 sheets of delicate Xuan paper form the ruffled exterior of ’s suspended “Boat” sculpture. The renowned artist, who’s currently living and working in his hometown of Beijing, is widely regarded for pioneering Chinese abstract art, and this monumental installation from 2015 is a reflection of his conceptual, meditative practice.
Spanning 18 meters long and seven meters wide, “Boat” is comprised of wrinkled paper layers draped around bamboo frames. Countless thin cotton threads hold the individual components in place and intersect the curved, tunnel-like form with straight lines that extend vertically to the ceiling. Bisected with a central space for viewers to pass through, the metaphorical work considers the passage of time and space and is an extension of (shown below), which features a single, halved form anchored to the gallery floor with stones.
The artist is exhibiting at next month and is opening a solo in Shanghai at the end of the year. Until then, explore an archive of his works at and on .
“Boat” (2015), Xuan (rice) paper, bamboo, cotton threads, 18 x 7 meters
Detail of “Boat” (2015), Xuan (rice) paper, bamboo, cotton threads, 18 x 7 meters
Detail of “Boat” (2015), Xuan (rice) paper, bamboo, cotton threads, 18 x 7 meters
“Wave of Materials” (2007), Xuan paper, cotton thread, bamboo, and stones
“Wave of Materials” (2007), Xuan paper, cotton thread, bamboo, and stones
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