Relic 12

This painting is one in a series to honor women and comment on their "place" in pre-revolutionary China. As courtesans and prostitutes they are elevated in the artist's hands, isolated in a field of paint, accompanied by emblems and images from classic Chinese paintings. Characters for Nu Wa, a Chinese creation goddess are painted over her groin. Nu-Wa was the inventor of marriage and made humans by slinging a rope. The hand made meant that it was noble, and made with rope stood for poor. The multiple circles around the painting means Pi in the Chinese language, which translated means universe and it’s surrounding the women in the painting. The thing that stands out the most is the red square in the middle of the painting. This means female in Chinese and makes sense since its on the women’s groin I think this painting means uniformity and creation of people. The giant butterfly in the painting can stand for multiple things such as change, joy, and love. Also can show a feminist side to the women in the painting make her look innocent.
The line work in the Relic 12 is loose and controlled line work. The controlled line was the images shown on the painting which were the giant butterfly, and the women lying on her side. The loose lines were the paint seeping down the images that were painted on. I think it creates depth into the painting and brings it out more without leaving anything blank and boring.
This painting is a representational type of art work for many reasons. Almost every image has a meaning towards something, as I stated before with the circles meaning the universe to the giant butterfly.
I feel this painting is trying to communicate to the people who look at this when they think outside of the box. Showing people the women’s role in pre and post-revolutionary