Big Inkstone 2 by Su Xiaobai, created in 2016, is a limited edition photoetching and aquatint that showcases the artist's focus on texture, depth, and minimalism. This print, part of an edition of 40, features a square composition with a dark, almost weathered surface, bordered by subtle shades of earthy tones. The central form appears nearly indistinct, with faint circular lines and distressed textures that evoke the surface of a well-used inkstone, a traditional tool in Chinese calligraphy. Xiaobai’s work often reflects a meditative quality, merging Eastern aesthetics with abstract minimalism. Measuring 76 cm by 77 cm, Big Inkstone 2 invites viewers to engage with its tactile quality and contemplate the interplay of light, shadow, and surface, capturing a sense of quiet contemplation and timelessness.
Su Xiaobai (China, 1949) is a contemporary artist known for his abstract works that explore color, texture, and form. After studying at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, he developed a unique style incorporating traditional Chinese lacquer techniques with modern abstraction. Su's art often reflects themes of existence and perception, bridging Eastern and Western artistic philosophies.
EtchingEtching is a technique where a design is created on a metal surface by using a strong acid or mordant to eat away the unprotected parts of the metal, leaving the desired pattern in relief (intaglio). In modern art and manufacturing, different chemicals may be used depending on the material being etched.
Big Inkstone 2 by Su Xiaobai, created in 2016, is a limited edition photoetching and aquatint that showcases the artist's focus on texture, depth, and minimalism. This print, part of an edition of 40, features a square composition with a dark, almost weathered surface, bordered by subtle shades of earthy tones. The central form appears nearly indistinct, with faint circular lines and distressed textures that evoke the surface of a well-used inkstone, a traditional tool in Chinese calligraphy. Xiaobai’s work often reflects a meditative quality, merging Eastern aesthetics with abstract minimalism. Measuring 76 cm by 77 cm, Big Inkstone 2 invites viewers to engage with its tactile quality and contemplate the interplay of light, shadow, and surface, capturing a sense of quiet contemplation and timelessness.
Su Xiaobai (China, 1949) is a contemporary artist known for his abstract works that explore color, texture, and form. After studying at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, he developed a unique style incorporating traditional Chinese lacquer techniques with modern abstraction. Su's art often reflects themes of existence and perception, bridging Eastern and Western artistic philosophies.
My object is the surface layer presented on the painting.
- Xiaobai Su
Xiaobai Su, a sculptor, painter and printmaker, was born in the Republic of China. He studied art in Wuhan School of Arts and Craft in 1965, Wuhan School of Painting and Hubei Institute of Fine Arts. Later on in 1985, he joined the Beijing Central Academy of Fine Arts. He was awarded a scholarship to study in Germany in 1987 by the Dusseldorf Academy of Fine Arts where he undertook his graduate program. In 2003, Xiaobai Su moved back to china, and was inspired by a millennium-old plant material that acted as the symbol of Oriental culture. He was diverse in his painting tools experimenting on clay, oils, sack cloths, vines and even wood. Xiaobai Su's work after studying in Germany was deeply instigated by modernism and abstraction. Xiaobai Su was celebrated with an exhibition of his work from 2006-2010 at the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts.
Chinese Contemporary Art is marked by a wide range of styles and experimental approaches. In the 1980s, avant-garde exhibitions were often shut down by government officials. The 1990s saw the rise of political pop and cynical realism, while China's One-Child Policy influenced artists to explore the individual as a subject matter.