Untitled

Gan Erke

2013 · Marbled lacquer (xipi) with gold foils · Asian Art

The simple but exquisite box embodies the concept of “hidden beauty.” Its unornamented black exterior conceals a distinctive interior embellished with multicolored xipi lacquer. The box may be seen as a metaphor for the Chinese ideal of seeking inner perfection. Gan’s works reflects an aesthetic attitude shared among a group of contemporary Chinese artists working in different materials. They aim to sustain or revive the highest levels of traditional craftsmanship, by producing distinctive utilitarian objects of great subtlety and beauty.

Artist

Gan Erke

Date

2013

Medium

Marbled lacquer (xipi) with gold foils

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, 2021