Gou Mang 句芒 2019

James Jean painted this artwork, Gou Mang, named for a deity associated with springtime and wood in Chinese mythology. Here, the traditional iconography of Gou Mang is blended with contemporary sensibilities. Flowers burst forth, and the dragon, a symbol of power and good fortune, writhes beneath the figure. The abundance of floral motifs connects to similar themes in works like Botticelli's "Primavera," where flowers signal renewal and fertility. What is striking here, however, is the almost psychedelic intensity and palette of the image. We see a blend of Eastern and Western aesthetics reminiscent of Art Nouveau, a style that also reveled in organic forms and vibrant colors. The image, with its vibrant color, pulls at our collective memory. It evokes a sense of optimism, a visual echo of the hope we invest in each spring. It reminds us that symbols are never static but continuously evolve.