It all started with this piece of Chinese silk brocade...Peony.
As you know I love the art within the Chinese world...especially the very very old...ancient.
I have been fortunate to have visited the Forbidden City years ago...before I had studied this art so thoughtfully...with my heart. Have you been somewhere and knew that it was already apart of your soul?
When I look at this ancient Chinese architecture...well, really, it is more than just a overall study, it is an absorption, soaking up, assimilating, ingesting of...like I am trying to find something that is just almost within reach...I love this study. My heart thumps...loudly.
And since this so sings to my soul and I devour the beauty, I would like to share with you how this translates into my work. One of the things that fascinates me about the Chinese culture is the many, many layers that it holds...
I will compare the images next to each other so you can see the connection!
Linear
Images from the Forbidden City
If we look at one of the buildings from afar it looks very linear. Everything lined up neatly in a row.
If we start to zoom in on those rows we can start to see a blossoming of the many layers that balance and live harmoniously side by side.
Tile Roof
still linear all neatly in a row but some details starting to appear...
I interpret this in the gathered skirt with cross stitch embroidery detail.
closer still and we can start to see very complicated but balanced details
This comes through in the jacket with the silk brocade edging out from beneath.
Lattice Work
The Chinese have the most exquisite lattice work I have ever seen.
Ancient Chinese Garden Window
by Y. Peter Li Photography
And so my own questions...
Is it an unconscious choice in choosing this art?
How do I intuitively understand this correlation?
I choose to believe that it has always been
with me and I found a way to express it.
I am thrilled that I can share it with you.
