Dream 28-1-2003
Chen Haiyan
陈海燕
Production date
2004
Object Detail
Media
ink and acrylic on plywood
Measurements
184.5 x 123.5 cm
Notes
Chen Haiyan’s artistic practice is grounded in traditional woodcut and printmaking influenced by the German Expressionists and also by the style of Chinese literati landscape painting. Her work focuses on the intriguing, private world of her dreams which she has written in an epic diary over the past 30 years. Applied in strong brushstrokes against contrasting colours, each of her work depicts a unique, fantastical narrative featuring juxtapositions of figures, animals and objects interrupted by engraved marks. A script of the story — almost like a superscription on a Chinese ink and brush scroll – is written on the textured surface revealing a hint of the mysterious. In Dream 28-1-2003, Chen wrote,
‘Dream 28 January 2003
I climbed up a steep mound of loose sand and yelled out, ‘give me a hand!’
There were a few men who put out their hands and pulled me up.
Having climbed to the top, I saw a truck with a very tall load of loose sand.
I thought to myself, ‘as soon as the truck moves, then surely, I too will fall off.’
Luckily there was an iron frame attached to the roof of the truck.
I took a firm grip with both hands, and said,
‘I haven’t even sat down. My backside is still outside the truck.’’
‘Dream 28 January 2003
I climbed up a steep mound of loose sand and yelled out, ‘give me a hand!’
There were a few men who put out their hands and pulled me up.
Having climbed to the top, I saw a truck with a very tall load of loose sand.
I thought to myself, ‘as soon as the truck moves, then surely, I too will fall off.’
Luckily there was an iron frame attached to the roof of the truck.
I took a firm grip with both hands, and said,
‘I haven’t even sat down. My backside is still outside the truck.’’
Accession number
2008.022