Carving the Moon, Opening the Clouds 1871 - 1933

This ink cake, 'Carving the Moon, Opening the Clouds' was made by Jian Guzhai. It’s a small, dark, shield-shaped thing, and I can just imagine the artist carefully carving those swooping dragons on either side. I imagine him working away, carefully cutting out the lines of the design. Was he thinking about the dragons, about the moon and the clouds, or maybe just enjoying the feeling of the tool in his hand, the way the material gave way under the pressure? The dragons that frame the central white calligraphy feel both decorative and symbolic. They face each other across the text, which is like a poem compressed into a small space. I always think about how each artist is responding to other artists, across time. Making this, Jian Guzhai was part of a long tradition. I wonder who he had in mind when he made this? It’s a really physical, embodied thing, and I bet it felt amazing in your hands.