SARAH MAYHEW finds Building the New Ashmolean: Drawings and Prints by Weimin He really quite revealing...

STANDING in one of the 39 galleries, on the fifth of the six floors in the New Ashmolean I gawped, wide eyed at the temporary exhibition Building the New Ashmolean: Drawings and Prints by Weimin He.

Clutching my notepad, pen poised to start scribbling enthusiastic notes, said pen was suddenly wrestled out of my mitt, and a pencil thrust into it.

“No pens allowed in the galleries I’m afraid, Madam!” came the proud, bold, yet friendly words of an invigilator.

Things certainly aren’t as they used to be.

Chinese born artist Weimin He has been keeping an eye open and quietly, yet keenly and acutely documenting the development of the Ashmolean since April 1, 2009, during which time Weimin has been working as the Ashmolean’s artist-in-residence.

The aim of the residency is to produce a body of graphic works, and to record the historic redevelopment of the Radcliff Observatory Quarter (ROQ) within the University of Oxford.

During this time Weimin has produced a unique account of the museum development in ink drawings, pen sketches and woodblock prints, a selection of which are on public display until February 28.

Both artist and academic, Weimin started to work as the Christensen Fellow of Chinese painting at the Ashmolean Museum following his PhD in printmaking awarded by the School of Art and Design at the University of Ulster in 2005; and perhaps it was in Northern Ireland that Weimin acquired his wry wit!.

Inspired by the Ashmolean’s back of house determination and dedication, and the noise, dust and hive of activity of the construction site, Building the New Ashmolean chronicles the blood, sweat and tears of the busy construction site from demolition of the old building in 2006 to completion of the new building in 2009. While Weimin’s works span a variety of techniques and media, the artist took his inspiration for this series from the simplicity and boldness of Han dynasty seals employing Chinese drawing and woodblock printmaking methods with his own contemporary and comic twist.

Portraits of members of staff are dipicted on pi, xuan papers or album leaves, with brushes and inks that have been used for over a millennium in China, and while elegantly executed, detailed and refined, they possess nothing of the allure of the “men at work” boldly going about their business on the adjacent walls.

Exposing himself to the nitty gritty of this monumental undertaking Weimin spent days on site with the construction company recording the Page 3 idiosyncrasies and Soviet-esque skyscraper precision of the builders tenderly depicted as being brutally bold yet displaying careful craftsmanship, concentration on their furrowed brows as they worked, lifting roof beams, welding metal rods, and pouring cement into mixers realizing the dreams and concepts of the museum staff, whose illustrated portraits also hang in the exhibition. Though it is the strong figures of the construction workers that stand tall in the compositions, towering above the city of Oxford, and emphasizing the Ashmolean’s position of significance within, and beyond the reach of the city.

Christopher Brown, director of the Ashmolean, said: “Weimin has been a very distinctive figure, standing amid swirling dust and dripping rain with sketch pad in hand to catch moments in the building construction and fleeting expressions of the builders, making many friends and admirers in the process…”

One overarching aspect of both styles of Weimin’s portraiture is the sense of ease between the sitter and the artist. Consequently, the viewer is afforded glimpses into the many characters that conceived, supported and realized this magnificent institution; and Weimin’s powerful portrayal of the building of the new Ashmolean goes a long way towards revealing how there is much more to a museum than meets the eye.

The exhibition continues until February 28 at the Ashmolean Museum, Beaumont Street, Oxford, OX1 2PH. 01865 278002 ashmolean.org Open: Tues-Sun 10am- 6pm, Bank Holiday Monday 10am–6pm. Admission is free.

The catalogue of Drawings and Prints by Wemin He, sponsored by BAM, is available in the Ashmolean Shop for £20.