Beijing-based artist Zhang Xiaodong practices the art of dragon scale bookbinding that stretches back more than 1,000 years to the Tang dynasty.
"Dream of The Red Chamber" (2017) —
Beijing-based artist Zhang Xiaodong practices the art of dragon scale bookbinding that stretches back more than 1,000 years to the Tang dynasty.
Courtesy of Sin Sin Fine Art
Using the Forbidden City Palace Museum's last existing dragon scale book for reference, he spent four years printing and binding his latest work "Dream of The Red Chamber," which goes on display in Hong Kong this week.
"Dream of The Red Chamber" (2017) —
Using the Forbidden City Palace Museum's last existing dragon scale book for reference, he spent four years printing and binding his latest work "Dream of The Red Chamber," which goes on display in Hong Kong this week.
Jacquie Manning
His intricate 120-chapter book comes with painstaking recreations of 230 images by Qing dynasty artist Sun Wen.
His intricate 120-chapter book comes with painstaking recreations of 230 images by Qing dynasty artist Sun Wen.
Jacquie Manning
Combining ancient folding and cutting techniques with modern technology, he prints pictures and text onto delicate paper at a factory, before cutting and slicing them to recreate Sun's paintings.
"Dream of The Red Chamber" (2017) —
Combining ancient folding and cutting techniques with modern technology, he prints pictures and text onto delicate paper at a factory, before cutting and slicing them to recreate Sun's paintings.
Jacquie Manning
The exhibition's curator Ying Kwok says a slight movement in the air gives life to the book itself, making the whole experience of reading a book three-dimensional.
"Dream of The Red Chamber" (2017) —
The exhibition's curator Ying Kwok says a slight movement in the air gives life to the book itself, making the whole experience of reading a book three-dimensional.
Jacquie Manning
Previously, Zhang also made a copy of the ancient Buddhist text, the "Diamond Sutra," a 73-meter-long scroll with 217 "scales" and more than 430 patterned strips.
"Diamond Sutra" (2017) —
Previously, Zhang also made a copy of the ancient Buddhist text, the "Diamond Sutra," a 73-meter-long scroll with 217 "scales" and more than 430 patterned strips.
Courtesy of Sin Sin Fine Art
"Dream of the Red Chamber" will be on at display at Art Central Hong Kong from March 27 to April, 2018.
"Dream of The Red Chamber" (2017) —
"Dream of the Red Chamber" will be on at display at Art Central Hong Kong from March 27 to April, 2018.
Jacquie Manning