{"id":71895,"date":"2025-07-18T06:03:14","date_gmt":"2025-07-18T06:03:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/71895\/"},"modified":"2025-07-18T06:03:14","modified_gmt":"2025-07-18T06:03:14","slug":"wang-mansheng-turns-to-nature-to-make-his-own-paintbrushes-from-organic-materials-colossal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/71895\/","title":{"rendered":"Wang Mansheng Turns to Nature to Make His Own Paintbrushes from Organic Materials \u2014 Colossal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you ever sought out the best variety of paper, highest quality paints, or most-trusted brand of equipment only to find that a cheaper, more readily available version actually worked better? That\u2019s something Chinese painter and calligrapher Wang Mansheng<\/a> thinks about a lot. Making his own brushes from natural materials, the artist considers how organic imperfections are often ultimately more interesting than anything produced \u201cperfectly\u201d in a factory.<\/p>\n

The artist\u2019s solo exhibition at The Huntington<\/a>, Without Us, envisions a world literally devoid of us, which he describes as a \u201cpure land without humans, without pollution, without humans\u2019 damage.\u201d Comprising a series of 22 ink paintings on silk scrolls suspended from the ceiling, the body of work highlights the interconnectedness of all living things. Starting with the equipment he uses, nature remains central in his practice.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

A short documentary<\/a> produced by The Huntington delves into Wang\u2019s process of creating his own brushes from scratch, utilizing stalks of grass and pieces of twine. \u201cManufactured things have a certain form,\u201d the artist says. \u201cLike a manufactured brush\u2014they are all really fine. The factory is trying to make it as fine as they could. But when you use it, all the lines come out as smooth and beautiful. But sometimes, I think it\u2019s too perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n

To bring out the character of old trees and dramatic cliffs in his paintings, Wang employs brushes that produce a rougher line or texture. In the film, he demonstrates how he transforms the soft, wide bristles of tall reeds into a tool suited to his needs. Through trial and error, he taught himself how to shape and use different sizes and densities to achieve a variety of effects. Overall, the texture mirrors age and exposure to the elements that shape how trees and rocks look over time.<\/p>\n

Wang Mansheng: Without Us continues through August 5 in San Marino, California. Find more on the artist\u2019s website<\/a>. (via Kottke<\/a>)<\/p>\n

\"a<\/p>\n

\"aInstallation view of Without Us at The Huntington<\/p>\n

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