Paula Scher manages to capture the swift transformations

Tag : Printed Fur
Paula Scher's 'China' is measuring 48.5 x 40 inches, the work is a stunning example of thevisual and conceptual nuances that comprise Paula Scher's dynamic maps. Involved in every aspect of the printingprocess, Paula Scher collaborated closely with Alexander Heinrici, Andy Warhol's masterprinter, to meticulously draw each individual plate and ensure thatthe limited edition print conveys the hand-painted elegance of the original.
'China' is printed on deluxe Lanaquarelle paper, hand-made in theVosges region of France. Produced as an edition of 90, each print is signed, numbered, and dated by the artist. The crisp, mattecolors and intricate detail make the text that crawls across Paula Scher's 'China' come to life.
In recent years, rapid economic growth, booming industry, increasedprivatization, a successful Olympic bid, and an undeniable presencein the international art world, have conferred superpower status onChina. Through the visual vibrancy of information overload in her'China' print, Paula Scher manages to capture the swift transformations taking place in acountry steeped with a rich cultural and historical fabric.
Deliberately choosing to incorporate official statistics from thePeople's Republic of China into the work, which include city populations, ethnic breakdowns,and industry figures, Paula Scher's map is undeniably subjective, thus underscoring thesubjectivity of all maps. The overwhelming density of text imbeddedinto the print connotes the country's burgeoning population. Themulti-directional, scrawled names of sites and statistics speaks toChina's complicated history, from its imperial age of dynasties andwarlords' conquests, to the violent tumult of its communistconversion. As one of the oldest civilizations on earth with thelongest-used writing systems, it is indeed fitting for 'China' tobe covered with seemingly endless text.
Paula Scher's work has been included in the permanent collections of theMuseum of Modern Art and the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museumin New York, the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., theDenver Art Museum, the Museum fur Gestaltung Zurich, theBibliotheque Nationale de France and the Centre Georges Pompidou inParis. She has taught at the School of Visual Arts, Cooper Union,Yale University, and the Tyler School of Art.
Each limited edition print is individually signed, numbered, and dated by the artist and is accompanied with a certificate of authenticity. For aspecial prepublication price, please visit www.paulascher.com.
The photo is also available via AP PhotoExpress. Source:Maya Stendhal Gallery