Jingqi Wang Steinhiser: HANGING BIRD, MOVING CASTLE
Title notwithstanding, why does what comes to mind so Hayao Miyazaki in nature and content looking at these larger than life paintings by Jingqi Wang Steinhiser?
Not so much in its style to quote the animations themselves but rather in spirit. Which is to say, idiomatic in scope yet universal in tone, imagine the painter herself as the lone female protagonist whether princess or huntress or witch or little girl facing fate head on fearlessly… And whether in the following text the artist writes asking what home means or where it might be located, one cannot help but think the richly illustrated world she creates is simpatico with the famed director.
Of course, this is not to accuse her of plagiarism but perhaps proclaim instead kindred visions out of love.
Photo credit: YoungSun Choi