More about Monkey, 2012
‘Far across the Eastern Sea, on the island called the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit, a magic boulder had sat on the mountain’s peak since the creation of the world. Bathed in the energies of Earth and Heaven, quickened by the light of Sun and Moon, the stone became fertile, and at last cracked open to release its young.From this stone egg emerged a full-grown monkey. As it gazed about and above, golden light shot from its eyes to the farthest reaches of Heaven and Earth’.
The Monkey King
A Superhero Tale of China
Retold by Aaron Shepard
From The Journey to the West (Xi You Ji) 16th Century Chinese tale by Wu Cheng’en
Technique
Cast in Jingdezhen special super white porcelain, glazed and fired to 1330° C.
'The painting technique is known in China as Xin Cai or oil painting on porcelain which I learnt in Jingdezhen from a Chinese teacher. Although this technique was invented by the Chinese during the Qing period, it was later perfected by the Germans at Meissen.
Previously I was trained in the Meissen technique by a Meissen painter using a pen, a quill brush, German Degussa colours and mediums but now I use a larger Chinese brush for much of my work with the exception of the tiny faces of the figures which are painted under a magnifying glass with a brush with only 3 or 4 hairs.'
- Robin Best
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