Small Is Beautiful, Less Is More

Chen’s album offers delicate renderings of animals, birds, fruits, and vegetables in the “boneless” style of past masters, in which ink or color washes are applied without outlines or distinct brushstrokes. The vivid color washes are rich and wet, accented by fine ink lines. Here the artist has created a personal miniature world in which living creatures exist apart from real time or space. And yet, upon closer examination, it becomes apparent that the creatures depicted are the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac for the cycle of years from 1984 to 1995. Standing in for the dragon is the appropriate Chinese character, rather than a depiction of the beast. The Chinese calendar dates appear on each page, as do puns or homonyms that refer to auspicious omens suggested by each animal.