Qin: A Contemporary Exploration of Chinese Pictorial Tradition

Integrating Tradition and Technology in Graphic Arts

Kaidi Mao's project, titled Qin, is a pictorial reinterpretation of Chinese painters' use of nature to communicate the Taoist notion that the whole planet is permeated by invisible Tao, "the Way of the cosmos, which is evident in nature." Qin, which means "to permeate" or "to seep into" in Chinese, allows different cultures, concepts, and methods to come together.

Mao's exploration of the aesthetic and intellectual tradition of Chinese landscape painting has enabled him to understand the connection between classical Chinese painters and their natural environments. To explore this painting's relationship to nature in a contemporary context, Mao has used today's technology to produce digital images inspired by the traditions of China.

The project deeply responds to the aesthetic and philosophical traditions that form the foundation of Mao's identity, with the goal of expressing emotional states understood through a Taoist lens and showcasing the beauty of tradition in a modern context. The project serves as an expression of the connection felt by a producer of such imagery with the underlying concept of Tao that inexpressibly permeates universal being in the Chinese tradition.

The initial images for Qin are sourced from photography and then digitally created using tools like Photoshop, Cinema 4D, and Procreate. The result is a series of visually stunning graphic arts that can be displayed physically and digitally, whether in a gallery setting or in a home setting.

Qin consists of two parts: the left represents water, and the right represents the heart. Heart can be interpreted as the depth of one's feelings, and when combined with water, expresses something that comes from one's innermost being. Through Qin, Mao explores the aesthetic depth with which Chinese culture responds to, reveres, and honors the natural environment by reexamining pictorial traditions using contemporary digital image production.

The project faced its fair share of challenges, particularly in visually communicating this East Asian worldview to an international audience, especially given the current political environment. However, Mao's dedication to bridging cultures and showcasing the beauty of tradition has allowed Qin to transcend these challenges and reach a global audience.

Qin has been recognized for its excellence and creativity, receiving the Bronze A' Design Award in Graphics, Illustration, and Visual Communication Design in 2021. This prestigious award is bestowed upon outstanding and creatively ingenious designs that authenticate experience and resourcefulness. Qin's incorporation of best practices in art, science, design, and technology showcases strong technical and creative skills, contributing to quality of life improvements and making the world a better place.

Kaidi Mao's Qin project is a testament to the power of blending tradition and technology, creating a visually captivating and thought-provoking exploration of Chinese pictorial tradition in a contemporary context.