Stefan Chinov (b.1968) American (b. Bulgaria), FOUR LOZENGES, 2015, Cast and dyed reinforced concrete.
Collection of the Dayton Metro Library, 2015.7
Chinov’s work was inspired by the Shang Dynasty Ritual Wine Vessel from The Dayton Art Institute’s permanent collection. Through drawing, modeling and casting Chinov engages in a reductive process that condenses his subjects to sensory entities rather than true representations.
From the Collection of The Dayton Art Institute
Chinese, Shang dynasty (1600-1050 BCE) Ritual Wine Vessel (Jue), 12th century BCE. Bronze, Height: 8 3/8 inches; The Dayton Art Institute, Gift of Mrs. Virginia W. Kettering, 1950.24
Stronger than iron, bronze meant power. The Shang dynasty used bronze weaponry, and bronze ritual vessels like this one were perceived as weapons in their own right; weapons against evil spirits and natural disaster. The three legs of this jue, or ritual wine vessel, elevated it above hot coals so that heated wine could be offered in tribute to the ancestors' spirits. This spectacular sculptural form represents another exploration area: an object that contains an associated meaning ... an analogy for the way in which library materials hold ideas.
See the piece and learn more by clicking here or see it at The Dayton Art Institute.