The Monkey King 72 Transformations of the Mythical Hero Now Available

Related: Fantasy, Art

The Monkey King, a widely recognized Chinese character dating back to the 1500s, has become a cultural phenomenon. Inspiring everything from fables and fairy tales to television shows and cartoons, this sacred and beloved icon possesses strength, supernatural powers, and is capable of seventy-two physical transformations. This innovative art book features seventy-two artists' unique and distinct interpretations of the mythical Chinese hero.

Legend has it that the Monkey King was born out of rock, making him extremely strong and durable, yet, as this book makes abundantly clear, his image is open to vast interpretation. Each artist was given the opportunity to draw the Monkey King in his or her own style. The result is a stunning assemblage of different interpretations, styles, and media. The work collected here includes personalized "re-creations" of the Monkey King likeness, fresh versions of an impression of the character taken from a scene in a film, and a three-dimensional model. The artists also include step-by-step drawings and text to detail their creative processes, what they gained from participating in this imaginative project, and their perceptions of the Monkey King.

The Monkey King is a captivating figure of fantasy, inspiring traditional and contemporary Chinese culture and beyond. The Monkey King: 72 Transformations of the Mythical Hero is both artful and accessible, making it a treat for fantasy and art enthusiasts alike.

Vincent Zhao served as the chief editor of Fantasy, a renowned art journal in China. Since 2009, Zhao has worked with the publisher CYPI on the Fantasy + series of books, as well as other books on CG art. Zhao is currently working on an international magazine about video games. He lives in Beijing, China.

The 72 artists from around the world include Berk Öztü, Chen Wei, Da Li, Edward Kwong, Enrique Fernandez, Luis Melo, Feng Hanxin, Florian Satzinger, He Xin, Huang Yitao, Chen Dawei, Huang Guixing, and sixty others.

For more informations, visit www.insighteditions.com