As we release these, our final screenprint editions by Jacky Tsai for this year, we come full circle to an artist who kicked off 2017 with the launch of the 3D skull, Sanctuary Skull Lenticular. Later in the spring, two unusual fan-shaped works were released; Golden Revival and The Revival which were a development of the artist’s core ideas of life, death, rebirth and evolution as well as the meeting of two cultures.

Fly me to the Moon is the image for the first lacquer carving that the artist ever created and it’s a powerful work, rich in symbolism as well as a keen spirit of excitement and adventure. Being originally conceived of in lacquer, the composition of the image is traditionally flat; to complement the ancient Chinese craft which usually has every element in one dimension. The stylized flowers and their outlined effect is also a nod to the classic Chinese painting genre called Yutang Fugui Tu, which is a decorative style mostly seen in royal paintings. 'Yutang' means jade palace and 'Fugui' means wealth.

East and West offset one another and shape the narrative of all of Jacky Tsai’s work and this series is no exception. An off-duty Batman - a quintessential American superhero - is seduced by Chinese beauties that are seen flying off with him and other western superheroes, on a voyage of discovery of new places and experiences. With clustering birds and flowers as the subject matter, the style is characterised by the 'outline' method of brush work and the use of bright colours. The image as a whole symbolises prosperity, wealth and happiness.

The work is a dazzling example of the power of dreams and pays homage to China’s master craftsman of bygone years, but it also has a deeper meaning that is relevant to the here and now and one which hints at current relations between the east and west. The precarious dynamics of China-US relations are satirized with the exchanges going on between the characters as well as suggestions of the influence of new gender roles in changing ideas of power and sexuality. Whilst they’re ambiguous and thinly-veiled, Jacky Tsai always has political points to make with his art and it’s this element of inspiring conversation that keeps us compelled and questioning what precisely it is that we are drawn to.

This trio of prints is released at an auspicious time in Chinese cosmology with the onset of The Year of the Dog, 2018, not far away. 2018 is a year that is said to bring wealth and good fortune, rooted in a respect for tradition, and it will also be a year which will see Jacky Tsai’s work debut in Moscow and in Los Angeles.

Fly me to the Moon is available as three editions of the same image, but with different precious-metal leaf backgrounds. Over 150 sheet of metal leaf have been applied by hand to every single print, one gold (24 carat), one palladium leaf and one rose gold leaf. For Tsai, the yellow gold is the traditional material, representing the rich culture of China. The palladium leaf is modern and sophisticated, representing the future whilst the rose gold colour takes the characteristics of both, depending on how the light is angled onto its surface.

The prints, Fly Me to the Moon (Gold), Fly Me to the Moon (Rose Gold), Fly Me to the Moon (Palladium) are available in exclusive editions of only 18 prints with prices starting from $3585.00. You can see them in more detail here along with other works by Jacky Tsai.