Jason S. Yi

Legend of the White Snake

Jason S. Yi merges Western European and Asian landscape traditions in his paintings, sculpture, video and drawing. Yi applies his architectural training to his works, acutely attuned to the differences between the scale of nature and that of human constructions. In his most recent sculptures, Yi uses the most fake-looking materialsplastic, metallic tapeto create his works, or to shroud common objects like chairs to create his precarious, if regal, landscape sculptures, trapped between floor and ceiling, earth and sky. Yi acknowledges the long human tradition of romanticizing the landscape while exploiting its products.

The Legend of the White Snake is an ancient Chinese folk tale dating to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 C.E.). The White Snake yearned to join human society so she took the form of a woman and married a scholar. Because snakes are considered evil in Chinese culture, a monk imprisoned Madam Snakeit is her cage that Yi evokes in his tangled construction. While Yis work refers to an ancient story, when circling the form, however, the sinuous white PVC pipe also resembles Jackson Pollocks overall skeins of paint, that were thrown onto canvases laid on the ground, inspired by traditional Navajo sand paintings.

Jason S. Yi merges Western European and Asian landscape traditions in his paintings, sculpture, video and drawing. Yi applies his architectural training to his works, acutely attuned to the differences between the scale of nature and that of human constructions. In his most recent sculptures, Yi uses the most fake-looking materialsplastic, metallic tapeto create his works, or to shroud common objects like chairs to create his precarious, if regal, landscape sculptures, trapped between floor and ceiling, earth and sky. Yi acknowledges the long human tradition of romanticizing the landscape while exploiting its products.

The Legend of the White Snake is an ancient Chinese folk tale dating to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 C.E.). The White Snake yearned to join human society so she took the form of a woman and married a scholar. Because snakes are considered evil in Chinese culture, a monk imprisoned Madam Snakeit is her cage that Yi evokes in his tangled construction. While Yis work refers to an ancient story, when circling the form, however, the sinuous white PVC pipe also resembles Jackson Pollocks overall skeins of paint, that were thrown onto canvases laid on the ground, inspired by traditional Navajo sand paintings.

Jason S. Yi merges Western European and Asian landscape traditions in his paintings, sculpture, video and drawing. Yi applies his architectural training to his works, acutely attuned to the differences between the scale of nature and that of human constructions. In his most recent sculptures, Yi uses the most fake-looking materialsplastic, metallic tapeto create his works, or to shroud common objects like chairs to create his precarious, if regal, landscape sculptures, trapped between floor and ceiling, earth and sky. Yi acknowledges the long human tradition of romanticizing the landscape while exploiting its products.

The Legend of the White Snake is an ancient Chinese folk tale dating to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 C.E.). The White Snake yearned to join human society so she took the form of a woman and married a scholar. Because snakes are considered evil in Chinese culture, a monk imprisoned Madam Snakeit is her cage that Yi evokes in his tangled construction. While Yis work refers to an ancient story, when circling the form, however, the sinuous white PVC pipe also resembles Jackson Pollocks overall skeins of paint, that were thrown onto canvases laid on the ground, inspired by traditional Navajo sand paintings.

Jason S. Yi

Jason S. Yi

Legend of the White Snake

Exhibition

Exhibition

Materials & Dimensions

Materials & Dimensions

PVC tubes, connections

144 x 264 x 108 inches

Year

Year

2010

Site

Site

Museum of Wisconsin Art

Credits

Credits

Collection Museum of Wisconsin Art, West Bend, Gift of West Bend Friends of Sculpture.

Yi chose the Legend of the White Snake after his first trip to China, and in recognition of how the story permuted over centuries as it spread from China to other countries in East Asia. Like history, the myth changes according to who is telling the story. Yi creates a densely packed screen of pipe, avoiding any artistic emphasis that would privilege one portion of the construction over another. In his tangled web of extruded plastic, Yi highlights the tension between our imaginary landscapes and the reality of the worlds we have created.

Yi chose the Legend of the White Snake after his first trip to China, and in recognition of how the story permuted over centuries as it spread from China to other countries in East Asia. Like history, the myth changes according to who is telling the story. Yi creates a densely packed screen of pipe, avoiding any artistic emphasis that would privilege one portion of the construction over another. In his tangled web of extruded plastic, Yi highlights the tension between our imaginary landscapes and the reality of the worlds we have created.

Yi chose the Legend of the White Snake after his first trip to China, and in recognition of how the story permuted over centuries as it spread from China to other countries in East Asia. Like history, the myth changes according to who is telling the story. Yi creates a densely packed screen of pipe, avoiding any artistic emphasis that would privilege one portion of the construction over another. In his tangled web of extruded plastic, Yi highlights the tension between our imaginary landscapes and the reality of the worlds we have created.

Donld Baechler

Plant

Donld Baechler

Plant

Donld Baechler

Plant

Lynda Benglis

Pink Lady (for Asha)

Lynda Benglis

Pink Lady (for Asha)

Lynda Benglis

Pink Lady (for Asha)

Chakaia Booker

Holla

Chakaia Booker

Holla

Chakaia Booker

Holla

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* indicates both Founding and sustaining founding sponsor

Anonymous
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Black Box Fund
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Susan & Mark Irgens*
Mellowes Family*
Sue & Bud Selig*
Julie & David Uihlein*
Lacey Sadoff Foundation

presenting

Collaborator

Betty Arndt
City of Milwaukee Arts Board
Good Karma Brands

leader

Anonymous
Heil Family Foundation
Godfrey & Kahn

Exhibition Partner

Visionary

George & Karen Oliver

sculpture

Wayne & Lori Morgan

Connector

BMO
Foley & Lardner
Hawks Landscaping
Open Pantry
PNC Bank
PwC
Russ Darrow Group
Town Bank
US Bank
WeycoGroup

Sculpture Milwaukee is always free and open to the public thanks to our generous supporters.

We work with trusted community partners to ensure great contemporary art is accessible to all.

Colophon

© 2025 Sculpture Milwaukee

thank you

To our generous sponsors, partners, collaborators, and supporters who make our work possible.

Founding & Sustaining
Sponsors

* indicates both Founding and sustaining founding sponsor

Anonymous
Donna & Donald Baumgartner*
Black Box Fund
Evan & Marion Helfaer Foundation
Herb Kohl Philanthropies
Herzfeld Foundation
Hoke Family Foundation
Susan & Mark Irgens*
Mandel Groups*
Mellowes Family*
Sue & Bud Selig*
Julie & David Uihlein*
Lacey Sadoff Foundation

presenting

Collaborator

Betty Arndt
City of Milwaukee Arts Board
Good Karma Brands

leader

Anonymous
Heil Family Foundation
Godfrey & Kahn

Exhibition Partner

Visionary

Evan & Marion Helfaer Foundation

sculpture

Wayne & Lori Morgan

Connector

BMO
Foley & Lardner
Hawks Landscaping
Open Pantry
PNC Bank
PwC
Russ Darrow Group
Town Bank
US Bank
WeycoGroup

Sculpture Milwaukee is always free and open to the public thanks to our generous supporters.

We work with trusted community partners to ensure great contemporary art is accessible to all.

Sign up for our newsletter

Colophon

© 2025 Sculpture Milwaukee