In her latest series, Playful Wonder, Catherine Lucky Chang embarks on an innovative journey into the realm of pulp painting. Conceived during a two-week artist residency at the Penland School of Craft in North Carolina, this collection represents both a technical breakthrough and a profound philosophical exploration. With Playful Wonder, Chang delves into the papermaking process as an expressive medium, creating works that are both tactile and transcendent.

Chang’s process abandons traditional layering techniques in favor of a direct engagement with pigmented pulps, which she pours, spoons, and places onto freshly couched sheets of handmade paper. This method results in an inseparable fusion of image and substrate, where line, shape, and color are embedded into the surface itself. The seamless integration of these elements mirrors Taoist principles, embodying the harmony of yin and yang. Positive and negative space, light and dark, act as complementary forces in these works, highlighting the interdependence of opposites in creating balance and unity.

The palette of Playful Wonder pulses with vibrant hues, evoking a sense of joy and curiosity. Chang notes that the series emerged during a challenging winter, its creation offering a transformative release through the exploration of color and form. This sense of spontaneity and presence infuses the works with an undeniable lightness. The compositions invite viewers into a playful interaction with their own perceptions, evoking moments of delight and introspection.

Beyond its philosophical underpinnings, Playful Wonder celebrates the tactile nature of papermaking. Chang emphasizes the importance of the process itself, where every step contributes to the final work. The physicality of working with paper, combined with the immediacy of the pulp painting technique, lends the series a visceral energy. The pieces revel in the texture and movement of their materials, creating a dynamic interplay between surface and imagery.

This collection signals a pivotal moment in Chang’s artistic practice, marking her first foray into pulp painting and expanding the possibilities of her engagement with paper. By embracing simplicity and materiality, Chang achieves a dynamic harmony that feels both innovative and timeless.

Playful Wonder is not merely a series of works but an invitation—one that calls on the viewer to rediscover the joy of play, the wonder of the present, and the freedom to create. In an era marked by complexity and uncertainty, Chang’s work reminds us of the transformative power of simplicity and the enduring vitality of artistic exploration.

"In the midst of a challenging time, during dark and snowy winter days, the act of making these works became a transformative journey."