Zhuangzi dreaming of a butterfly (or a butterfly dreaming of Zhuangzi) 

Curator: Looking at "Zhuangzi dreaming of a butterfly (or a butterfly dreaming of Zhuangzi)" by Ike no Taiga, made with ink, I’m immediately struck by the sheer fluidity of the brushstrokes. It seems the ink itself is breathing. Editor: There is an intentionality to it all. The rendering is simple but with very deliberate application of a material to create something ephemeral and yet so suggestive, isn’t it? Curator: Indeed! And that ambiguity inherent in the title really tickles me. Who is dreaming who? Is this sage dreaming he’s a butterfly, flitting about carefree? Or are we trapped in the butterfly's grand vision of us all? Editor: Let's focus on how such paradoxes translate in production. This work emerges from a historical moment of relative accessibility. Cheaper papers became increasingly available, the expansion of ink production beyond monastic production changed availability and ultimately, the artistic value of a given aesthetic became divorced from scarcity or wealth. Curator: Good point. I’m compelled by the simple elegance of it, you know? It makes me consider, am I a ripple in someone else’s pond? Is all of reality just…perception? Editor: I mean, that can certainly be one takeaway. If we consider the relationship of maker and subject, and also the social context of production we start to address questions of control and authority when understanding portraiture and abstraction. I mean, look at the bold calligraphic elements! Each character meticulously rendered…or are they? Curator: (chuckles) See, you’ve brought me back around to it! A bit more contemplation...a dash of humor...It all creates an intriguing image that gets us considering the real heart of being and creating. Editor: Yes, because how else do you reveal those systems? Well, in any case, the question of control over the material remains the essence of this. The tools define our freedom and shape the work we get. And with that...a chance for another circuit!