Taipei-based artist Wu Chi-tsung has revolutionized the ancient cyanotype printing technique by transforming simple crinkled paper into vast, ethereal mountainscapes that evoke the grandeur of icy peaks and deep ocean trenches. His ongoing Cyano-Collage series harnesses the power of natural sunlight to create monumental blue landscapes that reimagine traditional Chinese ink painting for the contemporary era. Each piece in the collection represents a unique intersection of light, technology, and human perception, challenging viewers to reconsider how they interpret the natural world. The artist employs large sheets of xuan paper, a traditional Chinese rice paper, which he meticulously folds, crumples, and collages before exposing them to the sun's rays. This innovative approach produces layered compositions that capture the unpredictable qualities of natural illumination while paying homage to centuries of Asian artistic tradition.
The Cyano-Collage series serves as a deeply personal tribute to Wu's mentor, the renowned Taiwanese artist and art critic Ni Tsai-Chin, who passed away in 2015. During his student years, Wu worked as Ni's assistant and engaged in countless hours of conversation about the future possibilities of calligraphy and ink painting. These discussions ranged from the revolutionary shifts in Chinese landscape painting during the Song dynasty to the complex influence of Western art movements on Taiwanese creative expression. Wu recalls that his mentor's expansive worldview, insightful critical arguments, integrated knowledge of both traditional and contemporary arts, and unwavering commitment to defending cultural subjectivity profoundly nourished his artistic development from his earliest novice periods. The series stands as a living memorial to their shared vision of pushing artistic boundaries while respecting cultural heritage.
Building upon his teacher's approach to traditional ink work, Wu combines classic cyanotype chemistry with the tactile qualities of folded xuan paper to create complex mountain scenes that bridge past and present. The process fundamentally reimagines the familiar brushstrokes and atmospheric effects of Chinese landscape painting through the lens of light-sensitive materials, giving these timeless compositions a distinctly contemporary twist. Each giant canvas emerges with the appearance of a snapshot from the deep ocean floor or a vast, cracking ice sheet, rendered in the signature Prussian blue tones that cyanotype naturally produces. The works deliberately blur the line between photography and painting, between control and chance, as the physical texture of the paper interacts with chemical reactions triggered by photons.
Every one of Wu's creations is entirely unique, shaped by the constantly changing conditions of natural light and environmental factors beyond any artist's control. He often jokes that his creative process feels more like farming than traditional studio work, requiring him to return daily to work in partnership with the sun and wait for light to land just right on the prepared paper surfaces. The artist explains that when working outdoors, a passing cloud can dramatically alter the exposure, while wind physically moves the paper, creating unexpected patterns and variations. Everything is shifting, completely beyond control, he notes, embracing this lack of predictability as central to his artistic philosophy. This surrender to natural forces becomes a metaphor for humanity's relationship with the environment in the age of climate change.
When discussing his creative process for the series, Wu describes an imaginative journey through the landscapes he constructs. As I create the Cyano-Collage, I often imagine tracing a mountain stream upward, climbing along cracks or ridgelines, and standing at the summit to gaze across the peaks, he explains. This mental expedition informs how he builds each composition, carefully considering the topography of folded paper as if it were actual terrain. The physical act of crumpling and arranging the xuan paper becomes a form of meditation on geological time and natural processes, with each crease representing eons of tectonic pressure and erosion. The resulting works invite viewers to embark on similar imaginative journeys, projecting their own experiences of nature onto the abstract blue forms.
The Cyano-Collage series has garnered international attention for its innovative fusion of ancient technique and contemporary conceptual art. Art enthusiasts can explore Wu's fascinating body of work through his official website and Instagram account, where he regularly shares process documentation and new pieces. My Modern Met granted permission to feature photographs of the series, highlighting the growing global interest in experimental photographic processes. The works stand as testament to how traditional mediums can be radically transformed when filtered through the vision of a contemporary artist willing to embrace uncertainty and collaborate with nature itself. As cyanotype celebrates its 170th anniversary, Wu's approach demonstrates that even the most established techniques still harbor infinite possibilities for creative exploration.
