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In the tiny, complex world of "Penjing", four LED butterflies flutter and dance around a traditional papercutting of an ancient miniature penzai tree. Handcrafted with a bamboo knife from a single sheet of paper, the papercutting or jianzhi is an artform that dates back to the Eastern Han Dynasty. The antique aesthetic of the ancient withered tree is further augmented by the use of traditional rice paper steeped in soy sauce which gives the piece its unique brown finish. This choice of medium also serves a practical purpose – the translucence of the rice paper sheets allows the flitting forms of the animated LED butterflies to show through. The integrity of the butterfly form has been carefully preserved through the use of actual butterfly bodies, scanned and painstakingly brought to life by the local artists of Liu Dao – a perfect combination of the creative imagination of artistry and the meticulous skill of craftsmanship. Penjing, literally meaning “tray scenery”, is the age-old art of skilled pruning and careful shaping creates a timeless landscape that harks back to China’s rich historical past. Just as centuries of penjing artists have sought to capture the spirit and essence of nature through contrasts between the natural landscape and human intervention, "Penjing" also seeks to meld the old and new of China through the fusion of timeless tradition of classical art and the modern technology of digital media. Through this, Penjing encapsulates the quintessence of modern China, in which heritage and progress dance around each other in an intricate interplay of influences. [Loo Ching Ling 吕晶琳] |
