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Viewing Stones

A Contemporary

Perspective

dialogues

between

the past and

the present

1

By Richard Turner, USA he American viewing stone practice derives stones, embodies this very attitude towards tradition
Photos by Richard Turner from both the Japanese and Chinese viewing and could well serve as a model for the development of
except as noted. stone traditions as they have been understood a contemporary viewing stone idiom. His work hon-
Photos 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and interpreted by American practitioners. ors the past but is firmly grounded in the present and
and 17 were taken by the TTraditions are not closed, self-referential oriented towards the future.
collectors. systems, to be approached with single minded, un- One strategy for infusing a traditional practice with
questioned reverence, they are dynamic, ongoing new life is to bring fresh perspectives to the table.
dialogues between the past and the present. The work An example of this is the idea of the found object, a
of the contemporary Chinese artist Zhan Wang, who term used to describe art created from undisguised,
makes large stainless steel sculptures in the form of but sometimes modified objects or products that

26 | BCI | October/November/December 2013