© 2005, Michael S. Cherney
Currently not on view
The Northern Song Spirit Road, S2 ( 北宋神道), from the series Bounded by Mountains (山重集),
2005
Michael Cherney (Qiu Mai 秋麥), born 1969, New York, NY; active Beijing, China
2008-56
Ancient book arts and modern photography come together harmoniously in this work. Michael Cherney made the photographs for this sequential album from both sides of the sculpture-lined "spirit road" that leads to the royal tombs of the Northern Song dynasty (960–1127), outside the former capital at Kaifeng. He captured the ancient dignity of the site (not yet turned into a tourist site like the Ming tombs near Beijing), as well as its modern setting. The rhythmic sequence of statues is echoed by industrial smokestacks and power lines that have (thus far) failed to disrupt the peaceful setting. Fate smiled on the photographic moment, with the unplanned intrusion of a casual motorcyclist driving down the hallowed path.
Information
Title
The Northern Song Spirit Road, S2 ( 北宋神道), from the series Bounded by Mountains (山重集)
Dates
2005
Medium
Album of 9 leaves (side a) and 10 leaves (side b); UltraChrome pigment inks on xuan paper, rosewood covers, and cloth-bound board cases
Dimensions
case overall 27.4 x 20.3 x 4.5
album overall (closed) 26.3 x 19 x 2.6
each image 20.3 x 36
leaf (fully open): 26 x 37.8 cm
accordion overall: 26.0 x 415.8 cm. (10 1/4 x 163 11/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of the P.Y. and Kinmay W. Tang Center for East Asian Art
Object Number
2008-56
Type
Materials
Subject
2005–2007 Qiu Mai (Michael Cherney), born 1969, sold to P. Y. and Kinmay W. Tang Center for East Asian Art (Princeton, NJ), 2007.
2007–2008 P. Y. and Kinmay W. Tang Center for East Asian Art (Princeton, NJ), by gift to the Princeton University Art Museum, 2008.
The Northern Song Spirit Road, S2 ( 山重集:北宋神道)