Yanxiong Lin
Serpentine, 2025
Iroko wood
H. 50 x W. 50 x D. 50 cm
H. 19 3/4 x W. 19 3/4 x D. 19 3/4 inches
H. 19 3/4 x W. 19 3/4 x D. 19 3/4 inches
Copyright The Artist
Photo: Graham Pearson
Further images
Hand-carved from a single piece of African teak, Serpentine takes its name from its serpent-like form. The wood is treated with the traditional shou sugi ban technique, creating a charred,...
Hand-carved from a single piece of African teak, Serpentine takes its name from its serpent-like form. The wood is treated with the traditional shou sugi ban technique, creating a charred, textured surface with natural, radiating cracks that follow the grain.
When illuminated from within, light escapes through these openings, casting wave-like, scale-like projections onto the surrounding space, evoking the movement and spirit of a snake. The piece blends craftsmanship and natural form, inviting shifting interpretations through its fragmented geometry and interplay of light, shadow, and material.
The work reflects the artist’s fascination with transformation of form into atmosphere. It invites viewers to pause, observe, and engage with a sense of quiet tension between fragility and strength, destruction and renewal.
When illuminated from within, light escapes through these openings, casting wave-like, scale-like projections onto the surrounding space, evoking the movement and spirit of a snake. The piece blends craftsmanship and natural form, inviting shifting interpretations through its fragmented geometry and interplay of light, shadow, and material.
The work reflects the artist’s fascination with transformation of form into atmosphere. It invites viewers to pause, observe, and engage with a sense of quiet tension between fragility and strength, destruction and renewal.
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