Jordan Zheng
Spice of Life
Class of: 2028
Major: Fine Arts BFA
Medium: Cinnamon, Cocoa Powder and Tea Leaf on Paper Fan
Faculty: Diana Shpungin
Prompt: Students were each assigned a genre of film, as well as any random material to use as medium. The project called to draw a relationship between form, material, and experimentation in order to creates new meaning through irony, metaphor, poetics, commentary, critique, or symbolism.
This series of hand painted paper fans draws inspiration from the ethereal landscapes and cinematic environments of Chinese historical dramas. Each fan captures a different moment and type of scenery: lily pads, lotuses, and bamboo forests. It inviting viewers into a richly textured world of ancient China.
What makes this collection unique is the medium: natural spices. I use pigments derived from cinnamon, tea leaves, and cocoa powder. These spices not only lend a sense of warmth and depth to each scene, but also carry their own cultural significance and sensory memory.
The fan, as an object, holds symbolic meaning in Chinese culture. Graceful, functional, and intimate. By combining this traditional form with natural pigments and visual narratives, I aim to celebrate both the historical beauty and the material richness of Chinese art and storytelling.