Viewing the Mountain Gorge from a Balustraded Terrace, from the series "Sacrifice" One from a set of twenty-four album leaves; ink on paper; with signature in clerical script (lishu) reading "Li Junyi 91"

Editor: This piece, "Viewing the Mountain Gorge from a Balustraded Terrace," is by Lee Chun-Yi, part of the series "Sacrifice" from 2005. The gridded effect over the landscape feels… almost like surveillance? What’s your take on the piece? Curator: The grid is intriguing, isn’t it? It can be seen as a system of control imposed on nature, reflecting how institutions categorize and manage even the sublime. Consider how landscape painting, historically, has been used to assert ownership of territory. What does this gridded perspective imply about access, or perhaps, restriction? Editor: That makes me think of how national parks are both preserved and regulated. Curator: Exactly. And the title, "Sacrifice," adds another layer. What societal values are being sacrificed or upheld in our relationship with the natural world? Food for thought. Editor: Definitely gives me a new perspective. Thanks!