"I Dreamed I Was a Butterfly"
From the Black Butterfly series. Portrait of Shan Zuo Zhou, charcoal and white pastel on mylar drafting film with blue-gray Canson backing paper, 16×16”. From a reference photo by Steven E. Gross.
I am a member of the 33 Collective Gallery located in the Zhou Brother’s Art Center, Chicago. The Zhou Brothers have been generous to allow our co-op gallery to use the entire art center for our group show this month. The show opens Friday March 20th, 2009. The Zhou Brothers are always on hand at the center and are very supportive of the members of the gallery and of their artists in residence. I am fascinated with them, their persona, and their work and decided they would be perfect subjects to draw for my series, which always features creatives as models. Brother #2, DaHuang Zhou will be tomorrow’s subject for Daily Drawing.
The butterfly is borrowed from a Chinese watercolor design, and the Chinese symbols stand for “inspired-dream-vision-revelation”
As noted in my earlier blogs, in this series the butterfly is symbolic of the artist’s muse. The title of this work comes from Chinese literature by Zhuangzi – [Chuang-Tse]
“One day about sunset, Zhuangzi dozed off and dreamed that he turned into a butterfly.
He flapped his wings and sure enough he was a butterfly…
What a joyful feeling as he fluttered about, he completely forgot that he was Zhuangzi.
Soon though, he realized that that proud butterfly was really Zhuangzi who dreamed he was a butterfly, or was it a butterfly who dreamed he was Zhuangzi!
Maybe Zhuangzi was the butterfly, and maybe the butterfly was Zhungzi? This is what is meant by the “transformation of things.” – Zhuang Zi (369?-286? b.c.)
The Zhou brothers short biography:
The Zhou Brothers are one of the most accomplished contemporary artists in the world today renowned for their unique collaborative work process. They always work together on their paintings, performances, sculptures, and prints, often communicating without words in a so-called dream dialogue. Their thinking, aesthetic, and creativity are a symbiosis of Eastern and Western philosophy, art, and literature that informed their development since early childhood. Their indomitable spirit allowed them to leave behind their brilliant success in China, where they were hailed as national heroes for their early work, to step onto the world stage. They have since achieved international acclaim while continuing to work in the West.
The Zhou Brothers, Shan Zuo and DaHuang Zhou, were born in China 1952 and 1957 respectively. They studied drama and painting at the University of Shanghai from 1978 to 1982 and the National Academy for Arts and Crafts in Beijing from 1983 to 1984 where they received their MFAs. During the beginning of the 1980s they became leaders of the contemporary art movement in China. In 1985 they won the National Prize of the Chinese Avant-Garde of the Ministry of Culture and the Prize for Creativity from the Peace Corps of the United Nations. They were also honored as the first contemporary artists ever to show their work in an exhibition that traveled to the five largest museums in China, including the National Art Museum of China in Beijing and the art museums in Shanghai and Nanjing.
Realizing that the political and cultural landscape at that time would not allow them to expand their careers, an invitation to exhibit in Chicago in 1986 presented a timely opportunity to make the transition onto an international stage. The Zhou Brothers have consequently maintained their home and studios in Chicago while actively exhibiting their work nationally and abroad.”
Companion piece, portrait of Shan Zuo’s brother DaHuang Zhou:
"I Dreamed I Was a Butterfly" belongs to the following groups:
1 on 1: The Fine Art of Portraiture , All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical, Dirty Filthy Art: Charcoal, Fine Arts, Live, Love, Dream: , Outsiders, PEACE, LOVE & TRANQUILITY, Realist Traditional Art and Who Needs Color For Beauty? - Black & White Art At Its Best
mimi yoon
oh my gosh, alice… this is one of the most beautiful image i’ve ever seen…
so amazingly beautiful… and the way you’ve designed the page is just immaculate…
Alice McMahon ... replied
Mimi, I want to give you a big hug! I’m here picking at my errors. LOL. Too late, it’s already framed and at the gallery. :) I hope Shan Zuo likes his portrait as much as you do! Thanks for the fave! (Here’s a virtual hug OO)
ShadowDancer
love LOVE L O V E this…
love his face, his pose, the butterfly, the narrative… oufffff… wonderful
Alice McMahon ... replied
love LOVE L O V E….love is all you need! Thanks for the love SD. ~ Back at you! <3>
Vasile Stan
Truly impressed on the deeper levels by your talent of depicting emotions and feelings on a human face. You must see what others are missing all together… your art is so revealing of You.
Alice McMahon ... replied
Vasile Stan, I’m touched by your comment. This was a very excellent photo reference by Stephen E. Gross, who spent weeks living with the brothers to capture these intimate moments. I often feel like a mechanic when I’m drawing, but today, I think some of the Zhou’s energy infused me – I drew this in just a few hours. I think they would like it that way. :) So glad you like it my talented friend!
Tracey Mac
This is an exquisite piece Alice…..the expression on his face while contemplating the beautiful butterfly is magical…..and I love the symbolism so much…
Your accompanying story is also extremely interesting and I loved reading all of it…
Wishing you much success with your gallery exhibition and I have no doubt it will be!
Alice McMahon ... replied
These brothers are extremely interesting, Tracy. You can watch them working in tandem on Youtube videos – so cool! I’m thrilled you liked this enough to keep it in your faves. An honor to live on your beautiful page. xx
ISMAIL ALAOUI ...
magnificent
awsome
i love this asian drawing,,,
i don’t have words for this beauty
the way he’s thinking the shadowsn the feelings
the kanjis, i couldn’t read them, they are surely not used in japanese,
they are old chinese ones!
Alice McMahon ... replied
Ismail, you are as kind as always. I’m fairly pleased with the Asian feel of the result, beyond a few minor errors in rendering. I suppose that comes with the freshness of a piece drawn with passion. I hope I’m feeling as energetic for tomorrow’s drawing of DaHuang!
BTW, I pulled the Chinese symbols from a tattooing website! LOL!!! :D
brettisagirl
this series gets more and more compelling :}
Alice McMahon ... replied
YOUR series gets more and more compelling. (teasing – Nate does that to me all the time ;) Seriously, I’m very excited about your new direction! Now if I can just get a minute to catch my breath, I’ll snap up that Zimmerman from your Etsy shop. (YAY!)
ISMAIL ALAOUI ...
hhahaha
i see, really i know japanese , and i couldn’t understand those, they are surely chinese, i’ll make some reseaches and tell you how to pronounce them, also the meaning !
AnitaInverarity
This is most stunning Alice- A true masterpiece xx
ISMAIL ALAOUI ...
i understood the kanjis=>
you can read them=> ling meng
ling= spirit or soul
meng= dream
霊 夢 =ling meng,(since the spirit leaves the body during a dream)
Alice McMahon ... replied
This is so cool Ismail! Thanks for looking them up. Great that you use these characters in your work as well. xx
JDNarts
The expression of quiet contemplation in his face and especially his eyes is wonderful dear friend! Fresh, direct and beautifully done; a totally compelling image. You are on a serious roll with these Alice! Very, very nicely done! :-)
Alice McMahon ... replied
You always make such thoughtful (and I know, honest!) comments. That means so much to me Jim. I hope the brothers like their portraits! xx
simonesphotos
this is truly beautiful!!
Alice McMahon ... replied
Wow! I’m stunned by the color and sence of light in your photos! Thanks for being so kind.
lindybird
An instant favorite—such soft, introspective beauty in this piece. I simply MUST try the mylar film (I bought some over Christmas break, but haven’t had time to work on it).
Alice McMahon ... replied
You should try it! I know when I bought my first sheet it sat for a while before I got to it. The first attempt was not good. I’m sure you’ll develop a style that will suit you, or maybe it willbe just a fun experiment. The best advice I ever got was that we artists should remember “it’s just a scrap of paper” :) Thanks lindybird. xx
2Herzen
Really great work in here! I’m stunned by how beautiful this one looks! :)
Alice McMahon ... replied
Thanks Herzen. This one fell into place so simply. I think the planning for the past month or so was the biggest hurdle. The creation was just a few hours. Took nearly that long to frame the darn thing. Ugh! :) The companion piece is now up, if you care to have a look.
ninamarie
So amazingly beautiful!
Alice McMahon ... replied
I love your little butterfly girl ninamarie. Thanks for finding me!
KarenYeeFineArt
Just marvelous. I like the way the eye travels down from the Chinese characters to his face, and then follows the direction his eyes are going to follow the butterfly’s path. It takes flight!
Alice McMahon ... replied
Oooo! That’s cool how you described how you viewed it Karen. You made my day! xx
Valerie Simms
So much thought in those eyes . Another wonderful piece Alice !
Alice McMahon ... replied
These fellows are really something else to meet in person. They have a burning intelligence and charisma, and a quick smile and sense of humor. I hope I captured just a glimmer of that in the portraits. Thanks Val!
Tahnja
You really are amazing and your subject as well as their background is fascinating. You’re a blessed lady and just so talented. Love ya!
Alice McMahon ... replied
Hugs sweetie! :)
Terry Hinkle
You are amazing. The emotions that your pieces produce are so strong.
Alice McMahon ... replied
I keep hearing that, so I guess it must have some truth to it. I especially get attached to people I know personally, and I guess those emotions come out stronger when I draw them. I’ll have to think on that some when planning future works. Thank you for your thoughtful comments and watch Terry!
Lynda Robinson
I can’t think of any suitable adjectives that do your work justice Alice – I will stick with “wonderful” but it is not enough!
Alice McMahon ... replied
Glad I met you here friend! Thanks! :)
fatchickengirl
Beautiful!
michael byerley
beautiful !!!!!!!!!!
Ingz
there is so much emotion in this very beautiful piece of art, you are so very talented Alice… very pleased to have met you xxxx
Alice McMahon ... replied
Pleased to meet you as well! Thanks for your thoughtful comments. Keep snapping those lovely dewy flowers!
Devalyn Marshall
This is a wonderful piece of art! Fav!
Malcolm Chant
OMG Alice I have just gone through all your ART, you are a very talented young lady.
brilliant work
Alice McMahon ... replied
I think I’m as chuffed about the “young” as I am about the “talented” :) Thank you!!!
ANNETTE HAGGER
Serene, thought provoking, stunning are all words that come to mind when viewing this beautiful piece of art…anna : )
Alice McMahon ... replied
Thanks so much for your kind comment Annette!
colorblind
whoa your attention is so precise…you have even capture the moles on his skin…..love what you do
H M Bascom
Beautiful composition and excellent result.
Alice McMahon ... replied
Thanks very much Helen!
Dawnsky2
this is absolutly stunning, most excellent art work, his eyes are magnificent! :)
Alice McMahon ... replied
Judging from your avatar, I’m especially honored you like it Dawn! Thank you!
KiwiAna
Hello Alice, I just happened across this. I think it is really a beautiful thing. I love the relationship between Zhou and the butterfly. Such thouoght and yet dreaminess in Zhou’s eyes. It’s a mesmerising piece. And very much well coupled with the Master Chuang Zi’s words. I admire you the opportunity to work with these artists and also the amazing talent you have.
Alice McMahon ... replied
Your kind and thoughtful comments are much appreciated KiwiAna! These brothers are very special human beings, I’m glad to introduce you to them. :)
Brian Towers
I’m not surprised you get such a lot of reaction to your work Alice, your artwork is really stunning. I’m sure I’ve never seen better charcoal work, and it give me a much greater regard for the medium – might even give it another try!
Alice McMahon ... replied
Oh my! So very kind, thank you for saying that Brian! I’m actually fairly new to charcoal – I’m not sure what took me so long, but now I’m at it, I’m hooked! I’m working on a very small oil at the moment, mostly because I bought a nice little board in a fit of whimsy and it was staring at me blankly far too long. I’m hating every last minute of painting it. Grrr! Can’t wait to be back at the black stuff. (Guinness too! LOL!) xx
LorusMaver
Outstanding work Alice, the composition,the ATD and the Masterful way you tackle your Subject matter, Indeed you are truly a Master.
Alice McMahon ... replied
You can visit any time LM. LOL! Thanks friend!
hsien-ku
Chuang Tzu!
beautiful work!
Alice McMahon ... replied
Thank you hsien-ku. Is this commonly known in China?
hsien-ku
I love Chuang Tzu. He’s much more poetic than Lao Tzu (who I do find a tiny bit sanctimonious).
My redbubble name is a tribute to one of the eight immortals of Taoism but I’m not Chinese. Most of my Chinese friends, though, know of Chuang Tzu :)
Alice McMahon ... replied
Cool to know! I should really read more Chinese poetry as I found this piece wonderful! I should also have a conversation with the Zhou Brothers about these poets. Thanks again!
Rhinovangogh
Alice, I love your stuff, but you know that. I think you are on to something with the Zhao brothers style portraiture. There is a brightness to it because you allow open space to be there. The moods are so individual and seems to capture the essence of these guys. Interesting/stimulating and as usual grrrrreat (Shrek voice here not Tony the Tiger. ) ;-) Ciao for now, Ever, RVG
Alice McMahon ... replied
:) Thanks sweetie. Sorry I haven’t been around much to comment on your new posts – I’m up to my eyeballs in new ideas – very excited – and not enough hours with mom duties to keep up with the flow. Solo show is September, but I should be able to take a closer look before then. Keep creating! xx
Adam Gormley
Oh my, this is first class artwork Alice, stunning work!!!
Alice McMahon ... replied
Very kind of you to say Adam! :)
F.A. Moore
Simply beautiful!
OliveOil
ooooooooooooh, outstanding!!! This is just beautiful work. thank you!!!
Alice McMahon ... replied
Thanks again Olive, for all of your kind words and faves! You are doing some great work I see! More!!! :)
Josh Bowe
Pensiveness captured
Karen Tillotson
Extraordinary work. You are very gifted.
RavenSoul
wonderful!
Lee Modrok
Thank you for the beautiful work. What do the symbols say? With Love Your favorite Eskimo, Lee
Lee Modrok
Sorry I got so exited… I read it. Thanks again… Lovely
skye oshea
This is certainly one of my favourites. From the space to the expression, just beautiful.
Alice McMahon ... replied
Thanks again!