The Intertwining Green Court 1871 - 1933

This is the work of Jian Guzhai, its called 'The Intertwining Green Court', and it was made with ink. Ink is interesting stuff, it's more than just black, right? It’s got a whole world of grey in it. This piece, it's like a little universe. The dragon sort of coils around these inscribed characters, and it gives the impression of movement. I love how you can almost feel the texture, the carving, like the artist's hand left a trace. It's more than just a picture, it’s an object, something that exists in space, not just on a flat surface. The way the dragon intertwines with the words, it’s as if he’s saying language itself is alive, and ready to pounce. Looking at this, I'm reminded of Franz Kline, his black and white abstractions. They're like echoes across cultures. Like Jian Guzhai, Kline's work also embraces a freedom of form, where every mark feels deliberate and intuitive, like the end of a sentence.