'chang-e'
high-quality giclee print
A5 size, 350gsm
 
‘Chang-E Flees to the Moon’ - my version of a woodblock print by Yoshitoshi Tsukioka. This is another drawing inspired by ‘One Hundred Aspects of the Moon’ series, which is my favourite when it comes to Japanese woodblock prints!
 
In a swirl of flowing robes and starlit, Chang-E ascends into the night sky, leaving the Earth behind. Her figure rises gracefully, silhouetted against the bright full moon, as she escapes to the heavens. The image is rooted in an ancient Chinese legend: after secretly drinking the elixir of immortality meant for her husband, the archer Hou Yi, Chang-E is drawn toward the moon, where she lives forever.
 
The motion of her flight is both serene and sorrowful - a woman caught between worlds. I wanted to show grace and quiet melancholy that makes us reflect on love, sacrifice, and the loneliness of immortality.