[MOC] Chinese Folding Screen

[larryland]

I just joined EB this week but couldn't wait to share my creation here!

 

The idea to build a Chinese folding screen, or 屏风 (píngfēng), came naturally as I walk by one several times a day at home! Historically, folding screens date back to China's Han dynasty (~200 BCE). More than just practical pieces of furniture used to divide rooms, they were often adorned with beautiful art and commonly referenced in the literature of the time. For my LEGO rendition, there were a few elements that I knew I wanted to incorporate from the start: a frame with an interesting woodwork design, colorful scenes, and representation across the three traditional categories of Chinese painting - 1) landscapes; 2) figures; 3) flower-and-bird.

I drew inspiration from four paintings from the Tang and Song dynasties. This era is widely known as the golden age of Chinese art.

1. Auspicious Cranes, Emperor Huizong, 1112 (Northern Song dynasty)
2. Court Ladies Adorning Their Hair With Flowers, Zhou Fang, Late 8th/Early 9th century (Tang dynasty)
3. A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains, Wang Ximeng, 1113 (Northern Song dynasty)
4. Red and White Cotton Roses, Li Di, 1197 (Southern Song dynasty)

The build

I started by creating the frames that would house the paintings. Using a variety of SNOT techniques, I achieved a smooth finish with no visible studs or undersides. As I didn't want the frames to look dull on their own, I added a design towards the base which resembles traditional Chinese wood carvings.

For the paintings, I sought to convey depth in a variety of ways. The folding characteristic allows each panel to be viewed at a slight angle, highlighting the shadows which have been cast against the bold backdrops. The frames feature a four-stud deep recession, which allows the brick-built subjects to "pop" against the backdrop. For the crane and flowers, I allowed certain portions to extend beyond the frame for an even greater three-dimensional effect.

I also wanted each panel to feel connected to the others, despite how distinct each subject may be. Starting from the left, the outstretched wings of the crane suggest imminent flight, and its red-crowned head is pointed towards the court lady dressed in red robes. Tracing the downwards flowing movement of the robes leads to the traditional blue-green mountains emerging from the clouds. The dark green and azure of the mountains are enveloped by white clouds, again referencing colors present in the 1st panel. Finally, a pair of cotton roses sprout upwards in the final panel, with the taller one mirroring the direction of the crane.

If you want to support my build on LEGO Ideas, feel free to vote here! Thank you and I hope you enjoy my MOC :)

Edited yesterday at 04:08 AM by larryland
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[Shiva]

Nice :)