Needlework, from the Corcoran 2005 Print Portfolio: Drawn to Representation

Contemporary artist Hung Liu began her career in China but moved to the United States in 1984. This image of an old woman absorbed in her sewing, like much of Liu’s work, explores the experiences of Chinese and Chinese-American women. The medium she chose—lithography—allowed her to draw or paint her design in a greasy material that attracted ink. The technique is suited to creating blurs and drips similar to those in her oil paintings, three of which are in the AMAM collection. The circles in the background reference the Zen enso (a circular symbol of enlightenment more closely associated with Japanese art) and reflect Liu’s interest in Buddhism.