Die Hua (Butterfly Art)
Die hua is a traditional craft from Southwest China, dating back to the Tang Dynasty, in which artists such as myself craft collages from the wings of naturally deceased butterflies. The process starts with sketching a design, then selecting and trimming wings by color, shape, and texture. Using tweezers, glue, and scrapers, I carefully paste each piece onto fabric or, for the most detailed work, paper treated with sulfuric acid. Since I was little, one of my favorite applications of die hua is attempting to recreate the work of famous Western artists, such as Van Gogh and Picasso. Doing so has required careful study, ensuring each wing pattern reflects the brushstrokes and color palettes of the original work. (In the close-ups, you can see how I’ve sought to translate Van Gogh’s expressive brushwork into natural texture, replacing painted motion with organic iridescence.) In the process, I feel I’m not only preserving this unique Chinese craft, but also better understanding the history of Western art.