The Intertwining Green Court 1871 - 1933

This is an ink tablet, carved by Jian Guzhai, and you can see it here at the Met. I love the idea of someone making ink, it's so elemental, so in touch with the earth. It makes me think about the materials and labor that go into making art. To create this tablet, the artist Jian Guzhai would have started with soot, mixed with glue, and then pressed into a mold. I can imagine the artist carefully carving into the surface of the tablet, removing small bits of material to reveal the dragon and decorative patterns. It seems like such a deliberate and considered process, each mark contributing to the overall image. It reminds me of how other painters use line work - the flow and rhythm that can create an image. I think of calligraphy and how the marks build up to something profound. It all inspires my own practice.