Touched by Indigo - Royal Ontario Museum
Touched by Indigo - Royal Ontario Museum
Touched by Indigo - Royal Ontario Museum
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the block to the fabric produces different results. While some images<br />
are sharp, others may be faint. While most have clean edges, a few<br />
do suffer from blurred contours or even the loss of certain details. Yet,<br />
notwithstanding the minor defects, the unpredictable crackle pattern<br />
created during the dyeing process gives each creature an individual<br />
look. It is precisely this element of surprise that gives wax-resisted<br />
products such a special visual charm.<br />
THIS DOOR CURTAIN is a factory product. The centre of the design<br />
depicts a bird perched on a lotus stem enclosed <strong>by</strong> a circle. It is<br />
framed <strong>by</strong> four lotuses and their stems. Eight goldfish outside this<br />
frame swim from different directions towards it, and identical fanciful<br />
forms of a curly plant disposed at both short ends complete the<br />
arrangement. The border patterns at the bottom include a band of<br />
spikes and another band with<br />
circled dots and dots filling<br />
the lozenges and triangles<br />
formed <strong>by</strong> connecting crosses.<br />
The spiked band enhances the<br />
fringes, making them look longer.<br />
Goldfish (jinyu) swimming<br />
in a pond (shuitang) calls to<br />
mind the expression, jinyu mantang,<br />
which means abundant<br />
wealth. As a composite motif,<br />
fish swimming among flowers<br />
(usually lotuses) embodies the<br />
desire for a harmonious marital<br />
union and abundant offspring.<br />
As a commercial product,<br />
this door curtain suffers from an<br />
overly contrived design and a<br />
21<br />
mechanical quality inherent<br />
in the drawing. The static<br />
visual effect is a far cry from<br />
the intriguing vibrancy inherent<br />
in works from the hands<br />
of women of various ethnic<br />
groups who practise the art of<br />
21. TWO DOOR CURTAINS, Cotton, 2003, Kaili, Cuizhou province, Gift of Dr. Ka<br />
Bo Tsang in memory of Mrs. Tsang Ng Sheung, 2004.68.21, 22, L. 171 cm x W. 86 cm<br />
(with dyed pattern), L. 188 cmxW. 91.5 cm (with partially waxed pattern)<br />
traditional wax-dyeing everyday.