Song of the Divine Woodblock print; ink on pi zhi bast paper

Editor: This is Chen Haiyan's "Song of the Divine" from 1986. It's a striking black and white print. I find the figures quite enigmatic and their relationship unclear. What can you tell me about its context? Curator: The starkness and textual integration hint at the sociopolitical climate of 1980s China, a period of opening up but also artistic censorship. What do you make of the tension between the seemingly traditional imagery and the date? Editor: I see what you mean! The contrast highlights how artists navigated expression amidst shifting power structures, using subtle visual cues to convey dissent or commentary. Curator: Exactly! It's a potent reminder of art's role in reflecting and challenging societal norms. Considering this, how does it change your understanding of the artwork? Editor: It makes me appreciate the artist's cleverness and the artwork's quiet resistance even more.