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Ying Cao
Seeds, Seasons, Situations
Porcelain with wood, stone, metal, dried plants, and wheat kernels
2018-2019
31.5 x 12 x 8 cm and 39.2 x 12.5 x 7 cm
“’Sprout in spring, grow in summer, harvest in autumn, and store in winter’—this Chinese saying describes not only the change of seasons, but also the cycle of a longer period of time, and can be used to represent the long reach of the spirit of Christ in both time and space,” writes artist Ying Cao. Her work Seeds, Seasons, Situations is a meditation on the perennial rhythms of life that are tied to the natural world. Like the Labors of the Months depicted in Western art, these seasonal patterns create a cycle of sustainability as if ordained by God. These traditional seasonal activities provide for our physical needs and order our lives, sustaining our communities. Cao’s use of blue and white porcelain, for which China is world-renowned, emphasizes how life is made more meaningful when connected with the time-tested values of the past. The grains of wheat scattered around the bases of the four vessels suggest the need to plant seed with faith in the harvest—the future—to come.
(opposite view of Seeds, Seasons, Situations)
About the Artist
Ying Cao, born in Hebei Province, China, in 1974, received her Bachelor of Arts in Chinese literature and master’s degree in oil painting both from Beijing Normal University. She was a visiting scholar at the School of Art and Design of Jingdezhen University of Ceramics, Associate Director of the Fine Arts Department of Beijing Institute of Education, and an Art Specialist Trainer at the Educational Research Center of Beijing Normal University. She is a member of the Oversea Chinese Artists Association, and Vice President of Macao Contemporary Art Research Association. Her publications include “Well-Known Contemporary Artists and Artworks: Cao Ying and her Oil Painting,” “The Slow-Paced Old Days: A Collection of Cao Ying's Ink and Wash Works,” “Seen in Years Bygone: Cao Yingxin's New Ink and Wash Art.”