“the portable still life”

Written by Luping Zeng

Project 3- “the portable still life” I choose a Chinese tradition craftwork - Sniff pot (snuff bottling, European’s named), pronounced as Yion Hu Er (Chinese name) as my subject for this presentation. The aspect of snuff bottling likes pot and the materials were produced to use crystal, transparency and brightness. The interior painting used special brush – such as a tick off shape, as special use to portray the painting on the bottling inside wall. The size such like thumb, it is portability and mobility. My snuff of collection was a copy work it was made a local crafts man, amassed at curio market of Beijing in 1991.

Figure 1, photo of Snuff bottling                     Figure 2, photo of Snuff bottling

The history of Snuff bottling, it was brought to China in 1581 Ming time. As snuff bottling was popular in the 16^th century at king and noble class in Qing time. The first snuff bottling was transported by the European Lemarbo in mid 16^th century. It was so fascinated by the Europeans as a unique piece of artwork that displays a representation of China. They were collected by the London British Museum and on Eiffel’s dock of Paris in 18^th century.

Figure 3, drawing of Snuff bottling          Figure 4, drawing of Snuff bottling        Figure 5, drawing of Snuff bottling

My philosophy I will use the cross usually found at horizontal and vertical, and the context from Duchamp’s “Chessmen” and his declaration of anti-clericism. This signifies the cross cultural elements for refers to the use of new composited elements in the creation of these works. The V shape, superposition and arrangement will be used to produce new form vision

Figure 6, Marcel Duchamp, Chessmen, 1918-19? 2000 Succession Marcel Duchamp, ARS, N.Y./ADAGP, Paris

effecting. The mediums use water color and pen on paper. The drawing techniques would approach the life style and with extremeness freedom. The concept would use the Appropriation, expressed as a hypothesis; the project would be figurative drawing appropriate contemporary means of investigation cross cultural and intuition improvisation of innovative work.

Figure 6, series-1 of drawing of Snuff bottling, 2010, pen & water color on paper, 30x22cm 

Figure 7, series-2 of drawing of Snuff bottling, 2010, pen & water color on paper, 30x22cm

Figure 8, series-3 of drawing of Snuff bottling, 2010, pen & water color on paper, 30x22cm