Beijing Renga: List of works

[1] 1996/05/01

1A GAO Xia
237x304cm

The seed of Beijing Renga: the character "soul" written in tensho (seal script).

1B GAO Xia
237x304cm

The seed of Beijing Renga: the character for "soul" written in kokotsu moji (oracle-bone inscription), carved into tortoise shells and bones in Yin-dynasty China and used for divination.
These 2 pieces were carried by TARUMI Kei from Xi'an to Japan and handed over to Anzai/Nakamura. The large-sized rice paper originals were digitized on a Pixel Dio.

[2] 1996/05/08

2T ANZAI Toshihiro
1024x768pixel

In response to 1B, suggestive of a person squatting, a human figure was juxtaposed. Dancing "soul."

2R NAKAMURA Rieko
660x984pixel

Embracing the "souls" of both 1A and 1B, "I gradually melted them into my world; a volatile mix." (Nakamura)

[3] 1996/05/20

3A GAO Xia
685x690cm

2T/2R were printed by Mr. Tanaka of Digix Corp. on DIN B0-sized machine-made rice paper and Fed Ex'ed to Gao Xia. Gao, chose not to paint directly on these sheets; he made new works on fresh sheets of paper in sumi ink and watercolor. This piece picks up primarily on the addition of the human figure in 2T.

3B GAO Xia
685x690cm

Same as 3A. The two forms of script of the first generation mixed together in the second generation is apparently played off of here.

[4] 1996/05/29

4T ANZAI Toshihiro
574x776pixel

A photograph taken with a digital camera at the Beijing exhibition space forms the basis of the work. "Anticipating that Gao would paint directing on the piece in the next generation, I inadvertently finished it off simply." (Anzai)

4R NAKAMURA Rieko
402x480pixel

A conscious focus on the transition in form of the human figure from 2T to 3A. A feast of rotation and spiraling.

[5] 1996/05/30

5A GAO Xia
350x304cm

Work that was created during a "demonstration" at the exhibition hall in Beijing. Gao put his brush directly to the printout (printed on rice paper with an Epson printer) of 4T. For a brief moment he traced a scheme in the air, and then, literally in seconds, completed the piece.

5B GAO Xia
350x304cm

Made under the same conditions as 5A. Gao added his brushwork directly to the printout of 4R. Surprisingly, Gao casually picked up a brush that happened to be lying around the exhibition hall, missing most of its bristles, and used it to make this work. Truly a case of "not being selective about a brush." (From the Japanese proverb: the master calligrapher is not selective about a brush.)

[6] 1996/06/01

6T ANZAI Toshihiro
475x437pixel

The fifth generation works were digitized on a scanner at the exhibition space forming the base for the sixth generation. Extracting the spiral and nucleic forms from 5B; the image of a sperm.

6R NAKAMURA Rieko
640x480pixel

Work created based on 5A. "A characteristic red, which differs in hue from Japan and the West, flowed unconsciously into the picture plane." (Nakamura) <

[7] 1996/06/01

7A GAO Xia
350x304cm

Live at the exhibition space, Gao rotated the printout 6R 90 degrees and painted on it directly. "I wrote while thinking on a dialogue between the mundane and the soul." (Gao)

7B GAO Xia
350x304cm

Again rotating the original 90 degrees, Gao painted directly on the printout of 6T. "Theme: life cycles." (Gao)
A shower of applause from the audience, and the curtain closed on Beijing Renga.

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