A Corner on Earth
Maker and role
Artist: Betty Tseng Ecke, American, born China, 1925-2017
Year
1959
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Object detail
Media/Materials
Collage and watercolor on paper, mounted on panel
Measurements
47 15/16 x 24 1/16in (121.8 x 61.1cm)
Credit line
Gift of the Estate of Tom Slick
Accession number
1973.24
Object type
Department
Location
Further information
Betty Tseng Ecke's interest in the historical and technical aspects of Chinese art inspired A Corner on Earth. While in China during the 1930s-40s, Tseng Ecke studied Chinese painting and calligraphy and learned how to make brush paintings. After moving to Hawaii in 1948, she spent the remainder of the decade and most of the 1950s teaching the history of Chinese art and techniques of brush painting at the University of Hawaii. Tseng Ecke created A Corner on Earth using a technique derived from studying repair methods of ancient Chinese scrolls. The process involves attaching thin sheets of paper to the back of the silk scroll. Here, Tseng Ecke glued thin pieces of paper with different colors and textures to the front, creating a collage surface. Ink washes, characteristic of Chinese brushwork, establish an illusionistic space while espressive marks, recalling Chinese calligraphic strokes, indicate trees.
Documentation
Tom Slick: International Art Collector; William J. Chiego; 2009; p. 96-97
Subject period
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