Rui Cai
I am an artist who has studied and inherited traditional Chinese art—lacquer art. Based on my knowledge of lacquer art during my undergraduate studies, I hope to explore the possibilities of lacquer art during my postgraduate studies at GSA. My artwork combines traditional Chinese art with contemporary art to discover alternative forms of art that can bring out the charm of lacquer. My artwork combines ecological art and lacquer art; sculptures, paintings, and installations made with lacquer are produced in a process where the color of the work rapidly dims and turns gray through oxidation and then continues to react with the air it comes from into contact with after curing. The reduction reaction allows the original color of the lacquer to emerge, but the time required and the result depends on the circumstances of the biochemical process, which can last from a few weeks to several decades. The themes explored by artistic paintings, sculptures and installations include, among others, climate emergency, environmentalism, and the regenerative attribute of nature.
We may not see them again，unless________.
By combining the four mediums of painting, sculpture, installation, and sound, I depict a coral ecosystem that is gradually falling apart because of the effects of global warming.
Using a combination of lacquer, translucent plastic, steel frames, and light sets, I created an octopus-like and colorful installation representing the vibrant coral ecosystem. For the two lacquer paintings, I used lacquer and abalone shells to create various beautiful but fragmented textures, representing the coral ecosystem that is eroding because of climate change. For the sculptures, I made the scene of algae overrunning the coral skeleton after the complete death of the coral. In the sound work, I combine whale-like calls with ethereal singing to present a harmonious coexistence between human and natural surroundings.
The technique I use in this series comes from the art of Chinese lacquer, a craft with a history of thousands of years. Lacquer is an organic material with unique redox characteristics. When it contacts the air, its color will rapidly become dull because of oxidation, and then it will gradually return to its original state. Using its characteristics, I convey the idea that we can slowly restore the ecosystem with proper protection.
