If you scrutinize these photos (or have been fortunate enough to see the orignals), the metal sculptures are actually composed of more than 20,000 Chinese characters. This series of sculptures was created by Beijing-based artist Zheng Lu and was showcased last year in numerous exhibitions in China and across Asia. Despite the hard steel outer appearance, the Chinese characters have been seamlessly woven into his body of work. Lu chose the Chinese characters for his sculptures based on Chinese poetry and folktales. For example, he drew inspiration from the poem Wan Zhi Shui, meaning playing with water, which was written by the Chinese poet Bai Juyi during the Tang Dynasty. Intricate inscriptions of the lines of this poem can be seen in the elegant sculpture shaped like a splash of water. His works epitomize intrinsic and extrinsic significance in art. Other sculptures in his collection also take after symbols and metaphors Chinese literature.

In fact, many of Lu’s other works also draw inspiration from Chinese literature and culture. Being brought up in a traditional Chinese background, he was taught to write Chinese calligraphy. Hence, Chinese text has always been a key influence in Lu’s artwork. 

See more of Zheng Lu’s artwork here! 

Images from photovide.com