Lifting up a Leg 

Curator: This is Sanyu's, or Chang Yu's, "Lifting up a Leg," a watercolor portrait drawing showcasing his distinctive blend of Chinese calligraphic techniques and Western modernism. Editor: Right off the bat, this piece feels intimate and sort of vulnerable, almost as if we've stumbled upon a private moment. It’s like the artist is letting us peek into a space usually unseen. Curator: Exactly, the theme of the nude in Sanyu's work can be examined through the lens of cross-cultural identity and gender representation. His nudes challenge traditional orientalist views and, in certain contexts, disrupt established canons. Editor: Yeah, there’s definitely a sense of defiance in it, too. It’s not your typical passive nude. There is a dynamic and very assertive stance, very contemporary. Also, watercolor nudes… That needs to be celebrated more! It feels soft yet intense. Curator: The lack of contextual background is also noteworthy; the emphasis on the form removes any kind of spatial narrative, focusing entirely on the body and its relationship to itself and the viewer. Editor: I agree, it places the emphasis squarely on the lived experience, rather than the objective reality, a fascinating tension with his simple use of lines. The strokes feel very fluid. He captures something so tangible using just a few gentle lines! Curator: Moreover, there's also something inherently disruptive in presenting the female form in such a direct way during his historical moment, especially within the context of early 20th-century Chinese art's development and its relation to tradition. It makes me wonder if this piece can be a kind of declaration. Editor: I think it is. It feels as if we are witnesses to this bold declaration of self. Looking at it, I just want to live as freely and authentically as the woman in this piece. Curator: Absolutely. The raw immediacy of Sanyu's approach fosters an opportunity for contemplating how societal expectations intersect with self-perception, now and then. Editor: To think all these different aspects coexist in something that seems simple makes the artwork even more powerful. I think this one might stay with me.