Express Elegance Pavilion 1871 - 1933

This ink tablet called Express Elegance Pavilion was made by Jian Guzhai. Imagine the process, like kneading dough, but with ink! What strikes me is the texture—it's not just a flat, uniform blackness. There's a raised pattern, floral motifs intertwining with elegant calligraphy. It's like the artist wanted to engage not just the eye, but also the hand. I can almost feel the coolness and smoothness of the inkstone under my fingertips. And the raised details – those delicate swirls and curves – add a dimension of light and shadow, giving the piece a subtle dynamism. It reminds me of the work of Brice Marden, particularly his fascination with the materiality of paint. Like Marden, Jian Guzhai seems interested in the interplay between surface and depth, line and form, inviting us to lose ourselves in the tactile and visual richness of the medium. In the end, art is all about the conversation, the dialogue across time and cultures, the endless exploration of what it means to see and feel.