I was commissioned to create a series of installation art for Wing Luke Museum in Seattle. They asked me to create Snow, Surf, Skate inspired art to describe Asian American identity.
The series was inspired by board culture mixed with modern twist of 4 Chinese mythological creatures. I designed 4 characters to ride on a different animal. Each artwork is made of bamboo panels consist of 4 layers to achieve semi 3D look. Each peice is about 15" wide and 30" tall.
The Four Symbols (Chinese: 四象; pinyin: Sì Xiàng) are four mythological creatures in the Chinese constellations. They are the Azure Dragon, (Qing Long) of the East, the Vermilion Bird (Zhu Que) of the South, the White Tiger (Bai Hu) of the West, and the Black Turtle (Xuan Wu) of the North. Each one of them represents a direction and a season, and each has its own individual characteristics and origins.
This is the vector version of the design then the bamboo wood panel was cut and laser engraved
This is the vector version of the design then the bamboo wood panel was cut and laser engraved
This is the vector version of the design then the bamboo wood panel was cut and laser engraved
This is the vector version of the design then the bamboo wood panel was cut and laser engraved
This is the vector version of the design then the bamboo wood panel was cut and laser engraved
Once the vector design is finished, I figured out how the different thickness of the panel would layered.
All the design was laser cut and engraved on bamboo panels. Once I got the parts cut, they were sanded first.
Brushing off the sanded surface
putting some protective coat before coloring
the dark areas are colored with sumi ink
2nd sanding for stripping unwanted color on the surface
some areas are colored with simple brush painting
putting pieces together create layers of objects
finishing was done by organic bees wax
polishing the surface to bring the smooth shiny finish
the small character is protected by green acrylic plate
for installation, the pieces were bolted on the wall and the bolts are hidden completely by the extra wood pieces.
This is the center piece of the series as introductory design accompany with 4 QR codes to access more information about each artwork.
This particular design is based on Black Turtle. I used squares as characteristic design element for this piece. Square represent stableness. Despite its English name, it is usually depicted as a turtle entwined together with a snake. Further, in East Asia, it is not called after either animal but is instead known as the “Black Warrior” under various local pronunciations. It represents the north and the winter season.
This particular design is based on White Tiger. I used stripes as characteristic design element for this piece. In Chinese culture, the tiger is the king of the beasts and has been presented with a king on his forehead for centuries. According to legend, the tiger’s tail would turn into white when it reached the age of 500 years. In this way, the white tiger became a kind of mythological creature. It was said that the white tiger would only appear when the emperor ruled with absolute virtue, or if there was peace throughout the world. Because the color white of the Chinese five elements also represents the west, the white tiger thus became a mythological guardian of the west.
This particular design is based on Vermilion Bird. I used circles as characteristic design element for this piece. Circle associated with “softness of feather.” According to Wu Xing, the Taoist five-elemental system, it represents the fire-element, the direction south, and the season summer correspondingly. Thus it is sometimes called the Vermilion bird of the South (南方朱雀, Nán Fāng Zhū Què). It is known as Zhuque in Chinese, Suzaku in Japanese, Jujak in Korean and Chu Tướcin Vietnamese. It is described as a red bird that resembles a pheasant with a five-colored plumage and is perpetually covered in flames.
This particular design is based on AZURE DRAGON. I used triangle as characteristic design element for this piece to represent the spikes or scales of a dragon. The Azure Dragon represents the east and the spring season. It should not be confused with the mythological yellow dragon that is associated with the Emperor of China. It is also referred to in media, feng shui, other cultures, and in various venues as the Green Dragon and the Avalon Dragon.
