Simultaneously, he asked a friend in Beijing to make a twin piece using a cubic meter of Xuan paper. When combined, the two components created a work of art known as Fang Zhen, which embodied the notion of East-West dialogue.

Since then, Zhu has frequently made Xuan paper installations, which have been exhibited in a number of countries, including China, Germany, Japan, Canada and the Czech Republic. In order to make these installations easier to preserve, his team developed a type of Xuan paper with fire-resistant properties.

In 2018, Zhu used 14,000 sheets of Xuan paper, 1,800 fine bamboo sticks and 2,000 7-meter-long cotton threads to make a large-scale installation titled The Ship of Time.

It resembles a tunnel through which visitors can walk to see floating specks of light on the folded surface of the Xuan paper, and creates an immersive experience that resonates both with the ancient material and the theme of time.

"Xuan paper installations can transform people's perception of time," says Zhu. "When you find yourself inside them, it feels as if you have transcended to another realm. Many of my exhibitions have been extended due to the enthusiastic response of the audience for the Xuan paper pieces."

Explaining why he has been using the paper for so long, Zhu says that his installations are the product of challenging traditional forms of calligraphy and painting on Xuan paper.

Their primary purpose is to defy tradition, possibly representing a new ideology in Asian art, while still honoring the historical significance of the ancient materials used, he says.

Contact the writers at xingwen@chinadaily.com.cn