Layered Landscapes

"Layered Landscapes" is an exhibition of works by two artists participating in a residency program organized by the Department of Art & Art History, the Cantor Arts Center, and the Center for East Asian Studies in conjunction with "On the Edge: Contemporary Chinese Artists Encounter the West" (at the Cantor Art Center).

Yan Lei has created four images of Stanford, painted by members of the Stanford and surrounding community, including students, professors, children, and museum docents. Having never before visited the United States, Yan Lei selected scenes that combined his imagined ideas of the United States, Stanford, and his memories of student life. They include a girls' dormitory, a Christmas party, Rodin's drawing of Victor Hugo, and the Cantor Arts Center. He brought canvases prepared in a "paint by numbers" style, with outlined areas for his "assistants" to fill in with his custom colors. Yan Lei's paintings usually comment on power relationships in the art world.

Yang Jiechang presents an installation/ performance. The installation is composed of three ink paintings of human bones plus a very large silk curtain embroidered with human bones and sculls floating, and being absorbed by a vacuum cleaner. The embroidery, titled "Scroll of Secret Merit," contrasts the most obvious signs of men's transitory nature with the color of everlasting gold to point to spiritual values. Those attending the reception will be invited to chant in front of the installation, under the direction of the artist.