November 2004
Past In Reverse: Contemporary Art from East Asia [Historical section]
Ivory was popularly viewed in both China and Japan as a precious and exotic material, imported from the West. This example is carved with subjects from daily life that would have held popular appeal: four spirited children and a friendly, if slightly eccentric, vendor of baskets. The theme of the peddler accosted by eager children dates back at least to the eleventh century in a famous academic painting of the Song dynasty. This theme is consciously revived by Wang Qingsong in his Knickknack Peddler, where he includes modern toys and shiny plastics designed to be irresistible to children.
Last Updated: 4/4/2005