Su Xiaobai's Big Inkstone 3 (2018) is an etching and aquatint that embodies a minimalist approach, focusing on texture and form. The composition presents a dark, square-like shape with subtle, distressed details around the edges, evoking the appearance of an aged inkstone. The central area holds a faint circular impression, adding depth and a sense of quiet introspection. The use of photoetching and aquatint techniques enhances the tactile quality of the work, giving it an organic and meditative character. This limited edition print, produced in an edition of 40, reflects Su Xiaobai's interest in the materiality and essence of objects, encouraging viewers to find beauty in simplicity.
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.
Etching and AquatintEtching and aquatint are printmaking techniques. In aquatint, the printing plate is etched with a pattern of tiny pits and cracks to create a wide range of tonal gradations. This technique allows artists to replicate the broad, flat tones found in watercolor paintings and ink washes.
Su Xiaobai's Big Inkstone 3 (2018) is an etching and aquatint that embodies a minimalist approach, focusing on texture and form. The composition presents a dark, square-like shape with subtle, distressed details around the edges, evoking the appearance of an aged inkstone. The central area holds a faint circular impression, adding depth and a sense of quiet introspection. The use of photoetching and aquatint techniques enhances the tactile quality of the work, giving it an organic and meditative character. This limited edition print, produced in an edition of 40, reflects Su Xiaobai's interest in the materiality and essence of objects, encouraging viewers to find beauty in simplicity.
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.
Contemporary art refers to avant-garde or innovative art created in the recent past or present day. The exact starting point of contemporary art varies depending on the institution, often tied to the founding year of museums or galleries that showcase the style. Contemporary art is characterized by its focus on current ideas, diverse media, and the exploration of new concepts and techniques.