Box with lid “Black and Red”

Gan Erke Chinese

Not on view

The simple but exquisite box embodies the concept of “hidden beauty.” Its unornamented black exterior conceals a distinctive interior embellished with multicolored xipi lacquer. The box may be seen as a metaphor for the Chinese ideal of seeking inner perfection.

Gan’s works reflects an aesthetic attitude shared among a group of contemporary Chinese artists working in different materials. They aim to sustain or revive the highest levels of traditional craftsmanship, by producing distinctive utilitarian objects of great subtlety and beauty.

Box with lid “Black and Red”, Gan Erke (Chinese, born 1955), Marbled lacquer (xipi) with gold foils, China

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