A Leaf Knows the Virtual and Real

This painting was born from an autumn day by the river. It captures the profound realization that what remains unseen often defines the vast majority of life. I deliberately left nearly two-thirds of the canvas blank, creating a boundless void for the viewer’s imagination—a metaphor for life’s inherent uncertainties. The small, solitary boat, carrying blurred figures, is the only tangible entity, symbolizing our journey through life’s mists, always moving forward despite the unknown.

My technique emphasizes “Qi Yun Sheng Dong,” using faint ink for distant, elusive mountains and dry brushwork for resilient shore pines. A subtle touch of red leaves adds warmth, a reminder that even in detachment, life’s passion endures. The vast blank space, my core expression, embodies the Tao—formless yet encompassing, a mirror reflecting each viewer’s inner state. This artwork invites you to feel, not just understand, to find your own answers in the interplay of the virtual and the real.

#ink wash painting #chinese ink painting #solitary boat #misty landscape #zen philosophy #spiritual journey #minimalist nature #void and form