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New Classic of Mountains and Seas I

Qiu Anxiong Chinese
2008
Not on view
Inspired by Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shanhaijing), an ancient encyclopedic cosmography that described a myriad of strange or imaginary creatures, Qiu began to develop his New Classic bestiary around 2004 in a series of designs that simulate a traditional woodblock-printed text with accompanying illustrations. Presenting modern machines and weapons as fantastic beasts, each image bears a title with the creature’s name—a thinly veiled phonetic equivalent of its name in English—and an enumeration of its salient characteristics. Qiu’s designs also appeared in his 2006 video of the same title.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: New Classic of Mountains and Seas I
  • Artist: Qiu Anxiong (Chinese, born 1972)
  • Date: 2008
  • Culture: China
  • Medium: Portfolio of twelve woodblock prints; ink on paper
  • Dimensions: Sheet (each): 19 3/4 × 16 1/2 in. (50.2 × 41.9 cm)
  • Classification: Prints
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, 2013
  • Object Number: 2013.944a–l
  • Rights and Reproduction: © Qiu Anxiong
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
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New Classic of Mountains and Seas I
Qiu Anxiong
2006
New Classic of Mountains and Seas I
Qiu Anxiong
2006
New Classic of Mountains and Seas I, Qiu Anxiong Chinese, Three-channel animated video with sound; 30 min., China
Returned to lender
New Classic of Mountains and Seas I
Qiu Anxiong
2006
In the Sky, Qiu Anxiong Chinese, Single-channel animated video with sound; 8 min. 17 sec., China
Returned to lender
In the Sky
Qiu Anxiong
2005
Temptation of the Land, Qiu Anxiong Chinese, Three-channel animated video with sound: 13 min. 25 sec., China
Returned to lender
Temptation of the Land
Qiu Anxiong
2009

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