Japanese Print "Memorial Ceremony of Water Dragon" by Ping Hao (b. 1952)
Artist:Ping Hao (b. 1952)
Title:Memorial Ceremony of Water Dragon
Date:2004
Details:More information...
Source:Japanese Art Open Database
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Description:
10/01/2005 Title Memorial Ceremony of Water Dragon Artist Hao Ping born 1952 Signature Signed and numbered by the artist in pencil Dated 2004 Technique/Medium Woodcut Impression Printed in thick, oil-based inks on a pliable, Chinese paper of middle thickness. The thick oil colors give the print the impression of an oil painting. Edition Size 80 Numbered 9/80 Description "Memorial Ceremony of Water Dragon" The water dragon is a kind of huge lizard that lives in tropical areas of Southern Yunan. Today it is a protected species. For the local people of Yunan the water dragon is a mystic character and part of a colorful festival. On April 8 of the Chinese lunar calendar, the local people used to pray for rain and a big harvest. But one year, the rain did not come. So people put the Boddhisattva (little buddha statues) in the hot field, and finally it rained. In memory of this event, people celebrate the festival of the water dragon every year. They splash water on wooden dragon statues and pray for rain and a good harvest. In the Chinese legend, the dragon character is connected with rain. Hao Ping shows with this design once more that he is the uncontested master of colors and of compositions. The model of the water dragon and the woman in her gorgeous costume seem like one entitiy. Hao Ping shows women usually with long hands and long slender necks. This gives them the appearance of natural elegance. Hao Ping uses usually 15 different woodblocks, meaning 15 different colors for one design. Note Hao Ping is one of the 60 contemporary Chinese woodblock artists selected for the collection of the London based Muban Foundation. Width 19.7 inches = 50.0 cm Height 19.3 inches = 49.0 cm Width of Image 15.0 inches = 38.0 cm Height of Image 15.0 inches = 38.0 cm Literature Christer Von der Burg, "The Art of Contemporary Chinese Woodcuts", Muban Foundation, 2003, ISBN: 0954604814, - pages 136/137