PRINTCatalogue Note:
Since 1995, Zhan Wang started a series of "Artificial Garden Rock" and "Floating Rock" creations. The ancients called the natural Taihu stones the "Artificial Garden Rock", but Zhan thinks that when using ancient stones to decorate modern contemporary environments, the stone itself is unreal, even he replicated rockery stones with stainless steel, but it fits and belongs to our modern living, it's the product of our era. Artificial Garden Rock that Zhan used stainless steels to create has elaborated the traditional Chinese culture, he wants to describe the industrial developments in the city through ice cold materials, it represents his knowledge to the materials he used to create. This concept also leads him to conduct many art experiments. The series of "Artificial Garden Rock" is unquestionably one of Zhang Wang's representative works.
Zhan Wang first began this series of works in 1995. While talking about the creation of this series, Zhan Wang said, "When I saw that rocks were placed in front of many modern buildings in Beijing as adornments, I realized that this two thousand year-old tradition, which has continued all this time, had lost its meaning. The casual ease in which they are used shows that its spiritual meaning has been eroded, and one cannot help but link it to the loss of culture. When we accepted industrialization, at the same time we had to accept the culture that stemmed from it. If a culture and its people disappeared, then I guess nothing more needs to be said. But the problem is when the culture disappears but its people still exist, that's an entirely different story. We end up with traditional garden rocks placed in front of modern buildings, and a mix of different cultural systems. " (Excerpt, Zhan Wang, The Marks of My Experimental Art)
Zhan Wang delved into research with his workers. Making satin in his own way and using brightly shining stainless steel, he links the cultural significance of artificial garden rocks to the new stance of modern Chinese culture. This work was created in 2003. A rare piece made with intricate craftsmanship, not only does it display the natural beauty in the creases, leakages, slimness and clearness of garden rocks, it also embodies the beauty of the modern metal industry. Artificial Garden Rocks connects both the aged and the modern, inviting artists to reflect on the history and philosophy of the Song Dynasty.
Zhan Wang first began this series of works in 1995. While talking about the creation of this series, Zhan Wang said, "When I saw that rocks were placed in front of many modern buildings in Beijing as adornments, I realized that this two thousand year-old tradition, which has continued all this time, had lost its meaning. The casual ease in which they are used shows that its spiritual meaning has been eroded, and one cannot help but link it to the loss of culture. When we accepted industrialization, at the same time we had to accept the culture that stemmed from it. If a culture and its people disappeared, then I guess nothing more needs to be said. But the problem is when the culture disappears but its people still exist, that's an entirely different story. We end up with traditional garden rocks placed in front of modern buildings, and a mix of different cultural systems. " (Excerpt, Zhan Wang, The Marks of My Experimental Art)
Zhan Wang delved into research with his workers. Making satin in his own way and using brightly shining stainless steel, he links the cultural significance of artificial garden rocks to the new stance of modern Chinese culture. This work was created in 2003. A rare piece made with intricate craftsmanship, not only does it display the natural beauty in the creases, leakages, slimness and clearness of garden rocks, it also embodies the beauty of the modern metal industry. Artificial Garden Rocks connects both the aged and the modern, inviting artists to reflect on the history and philosophy of the Song Dynasty.