Gong Kai
A Life of Quiet Resistance Gong Kai lived through the heavy transition from the Song to the Yuan dynasty. Born in Huaiyin, China, he was a man of significant presence, described as being eight chi tall with a long, magnificent beard. In his younger years, he held a position within the Board of Salt Revenues and worked alongside officials like Lu Xiufu. However, when the Mongol forces took control and established the Yuan dynasty, his…
The Lifeline
Scroll through Gong Kai's working life — artwork by artwork, chapter by chapter — from the earliest dated work to the last. Each thumbnail is pinned at its exact year on the gold axis.
Chapters — Career Periods
The ribbon is divided into shaded bands, one per career chapter. Each chapter groups Gong Kai's works by their historical period — early training, mature practice, final years.
Thumbnails — Dated Works
Every thumbnail is pinned at its precise creation year. A thin gold thread drops from the image to its exact point on the axis. Larger frames mark the artist's masterpieces by rank.
Colour Band — Movement Drift
The gradient bar beneath the axis shifts colour as the dominant art movement changes over time — from the warm golds of the early period through the deeper tones of maturity. It fills progressively as you scroll.