I Let Go [of the Snake] Woodblock print; ink on pi zhi bast paper

Curator: Chen Haiyan's woodblock print, "I Let Go [of the Snake]," is a powerful statement. The stark black and white imagery feels very raw, and immediately evokes a sense of struggle and liberation. It was created in 1986. What do you make of the symbolism here? Editor: It’s interesting you use the word liberation. I see the figure releasing the snake, surrounded by text... is it a rejection of something? Curator: Precisely. Consider the social and political context of 1980s China. Artists like Chen were grappling with tradition, censorship, and the desire for individual expression. Does the act of releasing the snake – often a symbol of power, but here perhaps of constraint – read as a commentary on breaking free from societal expectations? Editor: That makes a lot of sense. I didn't initially see the snake as a symbol of constraint, but now I do. Curator: The power of art lies in its ability to spark these dialogues and challenge our perceptions. Editor: Absolutely. I'm walking away with a new understanding of how art reflects and shapes social movements.