“MASTER · Tribute” – Expressing the Force via Eastern Aesthetics
What do you see when you look at MASTER · Tribute?
Simply put, “MASTER · Tribute,” an illustration by Huang Hai, is one of the most beautiful pieces of Star Wars art ever.
An unnamed padawan — braid in view, non-descript lightsaber floating, ripples of the Force emanating out, a shadow forming — meditates.
Above are the traditional motifs of Star Wars, Rebel X-wings flying to face Imperial TIE-fighters. Below, the horrors of war as filtered through the mask of Darth Vader.
And what, exactly, is lurking behind the padawan? Is that the padawan in Jedi robes, ready to defend against the Dark Side? Or, is that a student turned away from the light, embracing the darkness within?
Joseph Campell, whose work informed so much of what George Lucas put on film in the Original Trilogy, once wrote:
The monster masks that are put on people in Star Wars represent the real monster force in the modern world.”
And this piece evokes not only the modern world or the modern cinema of Star Wars but centuries of Eastern philosophy and art, all of which were also incredibly influential on The Saga (and Joseph Campbell).
This is the work of Huang Hai, a renowned Chinese poster artist who recently offered the world his interpretation of Star Wars with an illustration called “MASTER · Tribute.” Released last month to mark the Lunar New Year, it’s a personal, spiritual piece, reflecting Star Wars themes but directly informed by Huang’s own culture. “I hoped to express the Force through the lens of Eastern aesthetics. To show it through traditional Chinese art forms other than ink painting and Chinese brush calligraphy,” he tells StarWars.com over email. “I meant to show what a Jedi represents in terms of Eastern philosophies. A Jedi embodies a kind of culture, and cultures, per se, are always interlinked.”
Hai also explained:
Jedi have a lot in common with Xia Ke, the Chinese knights in the traditional martial arts novels. Both fascinate me…”
However, just like Jedi training, this particular illustration did not simply happen.
“I spent four months pondering over what point of view I should come from to present the limitless galaxy of Star Wars… We finally zeroed in on one idea: ‘looking into oneself by looking into the Force.’”
Indeed, looking at the piece, it’s impossible to shake introspection. It turns the “fun” of space battles and lightsabers on its head and brings it down to black and white. Good and evil. Light and dark.
MASTER · Tribute is as moving a piece of Star Wars art as has ever been created. Be sure to read the full article on StarWars.com.
What do you see when you look at the piece? Let us know in the comments below….