In an exhibit at Boston College’s Carney 203 Gallery using traditional woodblock printing, artist Cina He explores the effects of climate change in her hometown.
Born in Liuzhou in Guangxi province, He moved to Buenos Aires at age 12. Her artistic practice is deeply informed by these two distinct cultural landscapes. Now a senior at Boston College, she is pursuing a double major in transformative education studies and studio art, with a minor in film studies. Her show, “More Than a Village,” opened on Oct. 17 and runs through Nov. 1.
Woodblock printing is a unique art form from He’s hometown.
“Internationally, Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints are the most famous,” He explained. “But in Liuzhou, due to the climate, it’s actually difficult to preserve woodblock art, though it’s still passed down through generations.”
Although woodblock carving is physically demanding, He views the process itself as part of the heritage worth preserving. In her exhibition, Cina showcases this through a documentary that captures her working process. Each piece requires designing four different woodblocks, and each block must be precisely aligned to print the same pattern in the exact position, layering four or more colors to create the final image. In her “Prunus Vases Series,” He explores the contrast between nature-inspired symbols of longevity and the impermanent nature of the woodblock medium, reflecting on both heritage and impermanence.
“Intangible cultural heritage is intangible by nature, and this process itself is intangible,” she explained.
Supported by the Advanced Study Grant, He apprenticed with Hu Bo, a sixth-generation woodblock artist, during a summer spent in Guilin, Guangxi. This allowed her to immerse herself in this traditional Chinese art form, gaining both technical mastery and a deeper connection to her personal and cultural identity.
One of her original designs, “Shifting Climate,” is the centerpiece of the exhibition. The piece features flora and fauna from her hometown, bringing them to Boston, seeking to draw attention to the impact of climate change on the vulnerable ecosystems.
“The Chinese merganser is a rare bird with distinctive feathers that lives near Liuzhou. There are only about 3,000 left,” He said. “The flowers I used are Bauhinia from the riverbanks in Liuzhou. They used to bloom in rows, but this year, due to flooding, they didn’t flower.”
Reflecting on her trip back home, He expressed a sense of longing. “I miss my hometown,” she said. “When I went back, I noticed everyone had electric scooters.” Liuzhou, known for its electric scooter industry, is also gaining attention as a tourist destination through luosifen, a popular local dish. “The car industry is definitely polluting the water,” He said. “So it’s contributing to climate change.”
He will give an artist talk about the exhibition on Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.
