Photo: Wilson Lam. Image courtesy of M+, Hong Kong
NARRATOR:
This work is called Untitled. Created by Chen Guangwu in 1995, it is created using ink on paper. The work measures around 180 centimetres in height and ninety-seven centimetres in width, similar to the size of a door.
From a distance, Chen’s vertical brushstrokes seem to fill the entire page. The ink fades gently towards the end of every stroke, reflecting the natural rhythm of the artist’s breathing as he lifts the brush.
Up close, Chen’s slow, repetitive brushwork starts with a dot stroke, followed by a drag across the paper. This action leaves traces of ink in varying saturations that rhythmically overlap and divide. At times, they resemble trickling water droplets or swift upward motions, as if they are pushing against the current. The gaps in between resemble the image of a beaded curtain, gently swaying in the breeze.
In this work, Chen Guangwu deconstructs Chinese characters into dots, lines, and strokes, transforming calligraphy into a symphony of visual symbols. Through his immersive painting process, the textures of the ink create a sense of inner calm and tranquillity.