Horses, The Original

This is the original painting by Mao Jie that I found in 1995.  After searching for him for five years, I located him through his agent in Hong Kong.  He has given copyright permission for unlimited interpretations.

Horses, #1

This is the first interpretation into marquetry of Mao Jie's original Horses above.  It is one of those wonderful universal images that can be interpreted in many ways.  In addition, the light in the wood renders the work startlingly beautiful, and has caused more than a few arts professionals to say they've never seen anything like it before.  It is the first in an ongoing series of interpretations of the same image.

Materials:  12 species of natural wood veneer, lacquer.  By permission 1995.  48"x48". Craftsman:  Gene Zanni

Horses #2

Horses, #4

This is the fourth in the ongoing series of interpretations of the original painting by Mao Jie.  It is all red to represent the indigenous peoples of the Americas. The intertwined bodies can be interpreted as a universal symbol of the plight of all societies.

The work is breathtakingly beautiful because the red bubinga flashes like light in a ruby. 

Two copies exist.  One more failed.

Five species of natural wood veneer, shellac.  48" x 48".  An interpretation by permission.  2001

Horses #6

(in progress)

Version #6 will be similar to the multicolor

of Version #1, but much more confused.

it will take the metaphor

 of the image to an extreme.

I am using the veneer's properties

 to add symbols that expand the artist's intent.

Veneer colors will represent the races of humanity.

Brass lines will be the chemistry, physics, and chance

 that bind nature and man and man's invisible spirit.

A white wood will represent man's common soul.

The puzzle of the inextricable intertwining of bodies is man's interdependent societies,

and the individual struggle to be free of them.

The sky will be a chaos of pattern and stardust,

the womb of man's world.

The whole image will represent the dilemma

of every generation in every civilization.

9 species of natural wood veneer; brass lines; acrylic lacquer; UV additives.  48 x 48. 

An interpretation.  2006.  By permission.

Marquetry by Gene Zanni.

Finishing date:  probably in March 2006

If you wish to purchase, see Purchase or Commission.