Life Strands

This drawing is called "Life Strands" by Hong Chun Zhang. He used a huge piece of paper that rolls out onto the floor and drew it with charcoal. You can tell it's a drawing by the distinct individual strands of hair that stick out in the braid. It is in black and white, therefore you can assume it is done with charcoal or a pencil like substance. This picture is representational of a long braid. There is no questioning that it isn't and it is extremely realistic. It almost looks as if it is 3D because of the shadows he uses. The iconography of this piece may be that the beginning of the braid represents a strong life and by the end it is fading away, symbolizing death.