Fusing together elements such as classical Chinese motifs, characters from old Chinese folk tales, or Western comics, Jacky Tsai deploys aesthetically pleasing and fun imageries to present contemporary subject matters, which are often major current topics and social issues affecting contemporary societies today. By making his works in pop art style using techniques such as traditional Chinese lacquer carvings, traditional Suzhou embroidery, porcelain, and hand-crafted screen prints, the artist shows his deep enthusiasm towards Chinese artistry, which is not merely confined to his subject matters but is also shown by his aspirations to preserve these centuries-old, meticulous Chinese craftsmanship which would otherwise disappear.
Jacky Tsai (B. 1984, China) graduated from the China Academy of Art, Hangzhou in 2006, and obtained a postgraduate degree from Central St. Martins, London in 2008. Tsai’s works investigate the place of cultural heritage in contemporary society, and has become the leading Chinese contemporary pop artist. He is best known as the creator of the iconic floral skull for the late British fashion designer Alexander McQueen, and has also collaborated with brands such as Shanghai Tang, Lane Crawford, Genting Cruise and Gum Department Store Moscow.