157cm
61¾"
61¾"
50.1cm
19¾"
19¾"
Approximate Measurements
Artwork Panel: 32cm x 100.7cm ≈ 12½" x 39½"
Silk/Brocade: 41.1cm x 157cm ≈ 16¼" x 61¾"
Width at Wooden Knobs: 50.1cm ≈ 19¾"
Close up view of the artwork mounted to this silk brocade wall scroll
This scroll features a beautiful black ink bamboo on tan paper.
The title above is the rough translation of the Chinese written on this artwork, along with the artist's signature. The title is hard to translate, but it suggests if you reach a high level (of power), you must work hard to ensure you stay honest and honorable. The title actually talks of the knots in the bamboo, which represent being honest and honorable.
When I first met him, Cao Bin had a shaved head like a Buddhist monk. Years later, he has traded in that look for the ponytail that is expected of the eccentric Chinese artist
The artist's name is Cao Bin. He lives with his wife in Beijing, China. I actually met him through his wife who runs a small house-cleaning business in Beijing. So technically, he is my mother-in-law's maid's husband.
Cao Bin does mostly calligraphy, but I noticed his bamboo was also quite good. I had him do several pieces for me. He's getting to be a bit famous for his calligraphy now. There's even a book in print that features his calligraphy. I was lucky enough to meet him just before his meteoric rise, so I have some guanxi (special relationship), and therefore I get slightly better prices than any gallery manager that approaches him now. That savings is passed on to you (a guanxi trickle down if you will).
A frenzy of people watch Cao Bin create his calligraphy during a special event
This is painted on xuan paper (often called "rice paper" though not really made from rice). The raw artwork was then taken to my workshop in east Beijing where the master mounter built it into a handmade wall scroll.
Cao Bin at his studio