Wu Jian'an, "500 Brushstrokes #44," 2017

In the hands of Wu Jian’an, the traditional Chinese medium of paper-cut becomes a means of exploring an idiosyncratic range of iconographic source material culled from all over the world. One of the two contemporary artists who represented China at the 2017 Venice Biennale, Wu Jian’an has pushed the boundaries of traditional paper-cut techniques into the contemporary realm. From a series entitled "500 Brushstrokes," this work is a departure from the exacting precision of the artist's previous techniques and explores standardization in the production of an artwork. Described as "the liberation of brushstrokes," the piece is a collage of brushstrokes painted by visitors to his studio. Wu Jian'an views each brushstroke as the reflection of a person's soul, and delights in the informal and free-spirited forms. This unorthodox approach to the traditional medium of calligraphy painting results in animated compositions full of unexpected moments.

Ink, paper-cut, and collage on Xuan paper. Unframed.