Mynah on Reed 1368 - 1644

Fulan Taorên made this painting, Mynah on Reed, using ink and color on silk. The silk provides a warm, absorbent ground for the ink, which soaks into the fibers creating soft edges. The subtle variations in the silk’s weave contribute to the organic feel of the composition. The artist’s skillful manipulation of ink is evident in the graded tones of the bird’s plumage and the delicate rendering of the reeds. The creation of a silk painting like this involves many steps, from preparing the silk, grinding the ink, to the delicate brushwork. These processes are rooted in centuries of artistic practice. The artwork is not just an image but a record of skilled labor and cultural heritage. Paying attention to the materials, making, and cultural context, challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.