Thursday Salute to Originals: Pixelated Wood Carvings
In our world of highly advanced technology and on-demand culture, it can be frustrating when we experience glitches in technology. If the internet goes out, or Netflix freezes mid-binge, we can feel isolated, incapacitated, almost cut off from the world (and probably a little annoyed to say the least). We’re willing to bet you never viewed the frozen, pixelated picture on your TV screen as much more than a nuisance, but artist Hsu Tung Han sees that digitization as beautiful art, and fuses the concept with his hand carved wooden sculptures.
In simplest terms, Han creates pixelated sculptures out of wood. But the concept is more involved – both literally and conceptually – than you might initially think. In a clash of digital imagery and natural physical material, these sculptures appear to be dissolving into pieces of the wood itself – or materializing into human forms, depending on your viewpoint! Beginning as what the artist calls a puzzle, Han producies sketches and clay models which are eventually turns into the final work of art, derived from segments of walnut, teak, or African wax wood. Then the artist completes the “puzzle” by carving cubes out of his works in order to create the illusion of human pixelation, an image that leaves a lasting impression.
In what appears to be moment captured frozen in mid-transition, Han’s wonderful masterpieces remind us how quickly the world can change yet remain steadfast at the same time. Sometimes all it takes is a pause in life to appreciate the beauty of it all, and this is clearly demonstrated here in these masterpieces.
Today we salute Hsu Tung Han for his pixelated sculptural creations. His works of art represent the sudden collision between the modern world and old world values and traditions, frozen in time in monumental and thought-provoking pieces. So next time you experience “technical difficulties” try to remember Han’s stoic sculptures and think of your distorted and digital TV screen as a beautiful moment in time… but that may be easier said than done!
Sources: Hsu Tung Han, This is Colossal