Colorful Sanxingdui | Young Artist Wu Jiangtao: When a Bronze Mask Grew Pink Ears

 

 

"This isWu Jiangtao, and I am painting in Chengdu." With super-short hair just above the ears, and a simple self-introduction, Wu Jiangtao gave us a first impression of 'coolness'.

The young artist Wu Jiangtao was born in Sichuan's Meishan City, and won the bronze prize at the Cross-Straits Oil Painting Elite Competition. She is good at depicting women and girls through the medium of oil paintings on canvas. Wu Jiangtao said that after graduation, her creations have always focused on girls inspired by her friends. The different emotions of the girls in her paintings reflected her own mental state at different stages.

Regarding Sanxingdui, Wu Jiangtao told us that she had visited theremany times as a tourist. Although she didn't know much more about it, 'weird' was the main impression that Sanxingdui cultural relics gave her. "They have big eyes and big ears, and this kind of shape is very distinctive!" Wu Jiangtao said, as she shared her feelings with us. She has been nicknamed 'Little Witch' by many people who are familiar with Wu Jiangtao's works, a name which originates from the various unique and even 'weird' female images in her works. For example, in one of her paintings there is a girl with ears that stretch to the sky, and in another a girl who grows entwined with intricate flowers.

This time, Wu Jiangtao's object for re-creation is the highly representative bronze mask. "I chose a painting technique that I am familiar with to express one of my perspectives." The background of the painting was divided into two parts by a contrast between black and pink, and the bronze mask had grown light pink ears, while the bulging eyes also seemed less shocking after being painted with light blue. According to Wu Jiangtao, this creation was a dialogue between the Sanxingdui era and modern times based on her own life experiences. For example, she added the element of the Rabbit into her work and chose to shape the workinto having the appearance of a cute and furry toy.

"I think the colors of Sanxingdui cultural relics should be more plainthan thoseof modern pieces." Wu Jiangtao said, explaining why she applied colors with lower saturation to her work.