Ah Xian's Human human - lotus, cloisonné figure 1 2000-01 is an intricate life-size female figure made in the traditional technique of cloisonné.
In cloisonné vitreous enamel is applied to a base separated by thin, metal bands and fired in a kiln. Historically used on such items such as jewellery, small domestic items and weaponry, Ah Xian worked with traditional craftsmen at the Jingdong Cloisonné Factory in Hebei Province, east of Beijing, to create this remarkable sculpture.
Cast from real life, this figure was the only successful attempt of three, as production is traditionally a lengthy, labour-intensive process involving multiple firings.
For this work, Ah Xian chose the lotus as his decorative motif, and here it weaves around the nude female form. It is a flower rich in meaning and closely linked to Chinese metaphysics, in particular with Buddhist and Taoist philosophies.
A symbol of purity and perfection, the lotus is customarily celebrated as a sign of hope in the journey towards enlightenment. Ah Xian's use of this flower references humanity as the source of life, contradicting the traditional Chinese reverence for nature.
