At
home in its element of fire, this dragon was inspired
by an ancient motif the artist saw on a T'ang Dynasty
bronze vase (A.D. 618-906). This contemporary interpretation
shows the mythical beast against an explosively colored
background
of reds, golds and pinks. The Chinese ideogram for dragon is
on the left side
in a large gold swash.
This print tries to bridge the gap between the Eastern and
Western interpretations of the dragon. In China, the dragon
is seen as a bringer of rain and associated with sky and weather
phenomena. In the West, the dragon is viewed as fire-breathing
and dangerous. In both traditions, the dragon is powerful,
intelligent and symbolic of an intense spirit to be emulated
and feared.
