Orchids and Rocks 1896 - 1898

Editor: We’re looking at Yi Ha-Å­ng’s "Orchids and Rocks," a hanging scroll at the Harvard Art Museums. The orchids and rocks, rendered in ink, have such a raw, almost industrial feel. What aspects of its creation and reception strike you? Curator: Considering the labor and materials involved, how does the starkness of ink on paper challenge traditional notions of luxury in art? Think about the socio-political context; was this simplicity a form of resistance or a statement? Editor: I never considered the materials as a statement. So, its creation is tied to the social circumstances of the artist? Curator: Exactly. And how might the act of creating such a work, its materiality, be seen as a form of consumption in itself? Editor: That's a really interesting way to look at it. Thank you! Curator: Of course. Considering art through its material reality always reveals new layers.