1950 born in Zhongshan, China.Educated in China, Hong Kong and in Canada.My works were usually two dimensions, mostly print-making, drawing and paintings. After trying out to carve on a piece of fire-wood, I fell in love with it!In the summer of 2006, I begin to work on these series (33 pieces). As I worked on every piece, seems like each piece has their own character and their own stories to tell. Of cause,its all about history. Every single one of them are from the two old birch trees (may be 90 years old), growing on the boulevard next to our house. Here is why my good friend J.Michael Yates wrote in the introduction for my book.
Birch Ventriloquist
The Second Element: Wisdom of Wood
In motion were three trees and not a whisper of wind. Birch they were and, when young, contemplated the idea of canoe-- but then moved on, observing. Eventually the three settled upon a model from the stars. Stars were orbiters and orbitees, the almost-perfect constellation for three traveling trees. Their orbits were so imperceptible that they changed places in the dark when there was no one to see. For what some would call a lifetime, they watched and learned; when the wind came, they waved to one another and turned until a special time arrived when it was decided that their motion should change: toward down, toward death, because great age in wood can mean danger. All their knowledge would be lost, blown away as ash or dust. And it was all arranged. And then all changed. A sculptor called Jang passed their way and heard whispers of what the scattered pieces had to say. Jang asked for the wood and had his way. And now it is up to you to listen with your eyes and fingertips what the birches have to say.
J.Michael Yates … Read More