Big Inkstone 4 by Su Xiaobai is a limited edition etching and aquatint created in 2018. The work presents a deep, almost monochromatic square composition that evokes the textured, aged surface of an inkstone. The artist uses dark, earthy tones with subtle variations, accentuated by worn edges and faint circular impressions, giving the piece a meditative and timeless quality. This artwork’s heavy texture and restrained color palette reflect Su Xiaobai's fascination with materiality and the passage of time, inviting viewers to contemplate the natural beauty found in simplicity and imperfection. The piece conveys a quiet intensity, reminiscent of ancient stone or weathered walls.
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.
Big Inkstone 4 by Su Xiaobai is a limited edition etching and aquatint created in 2018. The work presents a deep, almost monochromatic square composition that evokes the textured, aged surface of an inkstone. The artist uses dark, earthy tones with subtle variations, accentuated by worn edges and faint circular impressions, giving the piece a meditative and timeless quality. This artwork’s heavy texture and restrained color palette reflect Su Xiaobai's fascination with materiality and the passage of time, inviting viewers to contemplate the natural beauty found in simplicity and imperfection. The piece conveys a quiet intensity, reminiscent of ancient stone or weathered walls.
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.