Article from: This is colossal
In addition to his ongoing Chinatown series, King’s recent works also include a few pieces of more personal relevance, including “Xuanzang.” The stoic character is based on the 7th Century monk by the same name who trekked 10,000 miles into India to recover Buddhist texts and inspired the classic novel, Journey to the West. “I used to be an avid backpacker and made a few life-defining treks myself,” the artist shares. “And I’m a book nerd too, so Xuanzang is naturally kind of an idol for me.”
The elaborately armored piece titled “The Wu Dan Answers the Call” similarly contextualizes King’s background within a broader history. “I wanted to tell the story of my feisty grandmother, who as a young woman tried to enlist in the bloody fight against the Japanese. But the piece is a mashup of a character from Chinese opera and Donatello’s famous sculpture of David, which reflects the two lenses through which I view the story,” he says.
“Xuanzang.” Photo by Jón Prospero
Detail of “Xuanzang.” Photo by Jón Prospero
“Lion Dancer” (2020). Photo by Jón Prospero
“The Wu Dan Answers the Call.” Photo by Satoshi Kobayashi
“Chess Players” (2020). Photo by Jón Prospero
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Article from: This is colossal
