Published: Fall 2022
Author: Chen Xinyan (Rita)
In the Qingdeng Market, there is a low table full of artworks related to ancient coins, among which is the proud work “Phantom” by the stall owner Zekun (stage name).
“Phantom” is a broken ancient coin from the Wang Mang period of the Han Dynasty, but thanks to the magical brush, the lost part has grown back in the form of a mural.
“Phantom” is the result of a series of innovative ancient coin restorations. Most of the ancient coins are seriously damaged and difficult to repair. In order to make the ancient coins truly lifelike, Zekun, an ancient coin collector, thought of cooperating with the muralist Shanren (stage name) to restore the incomplete parts of the ancient coins with mural techniques in a more modern way.
“Phantom” is visually holistic as the painting is almost integrated with the ancient coin under the light of the exhibition hall, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. [Photo/ Xinyan Chen]
Zekun's grandfather was an antique collector. Under his tutelage, Zekun developed a strong interest in ancient coins and Chinese history in his childhood. Then, as an adult, he founded Guardian of Arts, an art creation platform.
Zekun was committed to the protection of ancient coins and kept looking for new ways to restore ancient coins until he met Shanren on this platform. Due to their similar artistic pursuits, Zekun and Shanren soon became close friends.
The three-dimensional texture of Shanren's murals inspired Zekun to use the heavy-color technique of murals to give a new life to the broken ancient coins.
"Repairing ancient coins is not just about keeping them as what they were in the past, it is more about incorporating modern ideas and technologies into them so that they can truly come alive,” said Zekun.
The outer contour of the ancient coins is circular and the inner contour is square, which represents the idea of the ancient Chinese that the sky is square and the earth is round, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. [Photo/ Xinyan Chen]
The most important technique used in the innovative restoration of ancient coins is the heavy-color technique. The heavy-color technique refers to the painting process of repeated cross-drawing, aimed at strengthening the texture of the materials used and showing the three-dimensional effect.
Also, mineral pigment is essential to the heavy-color technique, which is obtained through more than a dozen steps, such as grinding natural minerals, adding glue and precipitation.
Shanren uses heavy-color techniques and unique mineral pigments, coupled with his rich imagination and elegant aesthetics, to achieve the innovative restoration of broken ancient coins.
“When I created the ‘Phantom’, I seemed to be talking to the craftsmen from thousands of years ago,” Shanren said.
When asked about his vision for the future, Zekun said with a smile, “I don’t think about it that much, I just like ancient and beautiful things.”
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