Zhang Quanhai 张泉海 and Art Under a Magnifying Glass

The language barrier is especially frustrating when it comes to trying to appreciate Chinese art. Today, I went to the Changzhou Museum and saw a temporary exhibit of art in the miniature, and I left wanting to know so much more about Zhang Quanhai 张泉海. Only, there isn't really anything about him online and in English, and machine translators from Baidu and Google are not all that great at conveying nuance. In literary theory, there is this concept called "death of the author." You could expand it to art by claiming "death of the artist" as a whole. This idea argues that you should look at a piece of writing -- or a work of art in general -- independent of the biography of the person who created it. Treat the work of art as an independent, thriving creature that should be judged on its own merits. I believe this, but only to an extent. It's only human to become intrigued by something and wanting to know more about the person who created it. That said, I still know nothing about Zhang Quanhai, but I am greatful that their work brought a smile to my face today. 

What amazes me about this body of work is the skill and precision it takes. How the hell is this person able to make such elaborate art on such a small scale? Here are some shots from the museum.