{"product_id":"lu-pingyuan-king-of-the-underground-peonies-print-1","title":"Lu Pingyuan King of the Underground Peonies Print","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Lu Pingyuan’s recent works he treats artificial intelligence as a quasi-deity in a new ‘belief system’. Lu feeds ChatGPT original stories and traditional myths, prompting the generation of new mythological figures. These are then materialised through traditional paper-cutting techniques historically associated with ritual and summoning.  \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eBy positioning himself as an intermediary – translating between human belief systems and machine-generated knowledge – Lu stages a dialogue between ancient creeds and emergent, technologically inspired ideologies, asking how faith and meaning might be produced in an age shaped by algorithms.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eKing of the Underground Peonies\u003c\/em\u003e, this system coalesces into a sovereign, hybrid figure. Part guardian, part apparition, the form is constructed from proliferating peony motifs that extend beyond the body into a branching, unstable field. Its mask-like face and confrontational symmetry evoke vernacular deity imagery, yet its exaggerated colours and layered patterning suggest a figure assembled rather than inherited. Less a natural bloom than a composite entity, the “king” emerges as a synthetic authority – not summoned through belief but rather through repetition and algorithmic excess.\u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eKing of the Underground Peonies, \u003c\/em\u003e2024  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003efrom the series Best of the Best Draw 2024– \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-teams=\"true\"\u003e24.5 x 16.6c\u003c\/span\u003em (image only) \u003cbr\u003e35.2 x 27.8 x 0.1cm (including white matting)\u003cbr\u003emade in New Zealand\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff2a00;\"\u003eUnframed prints can be shipped both nationally and internationally, framed prints are only available to be shipped within Aotearoa, New Zealand.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Auckland Art Gallery Shop","offers":[{"title":"Rectangular Black","offer_id":48778283057402,"sku":null,"price":160.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Rectangular White","offer_id":48778283090170,"sku":null,"price":160.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Unframed","offer_id":48778283122938,"sku":null,"price":75.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1296\/6027\/files\/15234-web--lu-pingyuan-king-of-the-underground-peonies-print_9f7c5d3e-17d9-4aef-a2c1-ce03fea31424.jpg?v=1777345257","url":"https:\/\/shop.aucklandartgallery.com\/products\/lu-pingyuan-king-of-the-underground-peonies-print-1","provider":"Auckland Art Gallery Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}