WIND DANCER, HEAVEN CALLER
The needles of the ancient pine caress ever-darkening skies,
until the chrysanthemum moon softly rises.
The burnished light gilds the tips of glistening wings,
raised to the heavens, poised for performance.
Unruly blooms tangle and climb towards divine realms,
their florid fingers curling heavenward.
Slick, lacquered eyes glint like liquid in the metallic, selenian glow;
these are immortal birds dancing to the rhythm of celestial music.
Wind Dancer, Heaven Caller was inspired by the belief in the immortal Chinese crane; celestial beings crossing boundaries between the mortal sphere and the divine. Representing a harmonious relationship when depicted as a pair, the two cranes are illustrated in the ‘wind dancer’ and ‘heaven caller’ archetypal silhouettes of the Song Dynasty, accompanied by a flourish of blooms in the traditional Bird and Flower Painting style of the era.
The addition of a pine branch in conjunction with the protagonists symbolises longevity. Chrysanthemums and a full moon represent an autumnal scene, while strategically placed cinnabar seals identify the artist and the provenance of the work while balancing the composition. Sabina Savage is noted in a traditional, calligraphy-style brush script.
Click the button below to discover Sabina's detailed research text for this illustration, offering a breakdown of each specific reference and wider symbolism within the design.
