Golden Lion Woodblock print; ink on pi zhi bast paper

Editor: This is Chen Haiyan's "Golden Lion," from 1986. It's a woodblock print with some text. I find the figures really interesting. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It's a powerful statement. In 1986, China was opening to the West, but there was also a lot of internal tension. Haiyan's lion, and the figure below it, perhaps speaks to that struggle, the tension between tradition and the desire for change. The mask is critical here. What do you think it signifies? Editor: Maybe the artist is exploring hidden identities or criticizing societal constraints? Curator: Precisely! It invites us to reflect on the complexities of identity and cultural transformation during that period. Thanks for pointing out the nuances. Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way, that context gives it so much more depth.