Requiem for the Present Eternal
2017 - 2020
Requiem for the Present Eternal merges Western and traditional Eastern modes of representation, offering an alternative narrative to the earlier series Substitute for Sorrow (2017). These large-scale monochromatic works incorporate aluminium - a material reminiscent of Tabula Rasa (2016) - within their composition.
Concepts of perception and dimensional potentiality share a foundational scheme linked by expressive textures and shadows. Each triptych references traditional Chinese painting in a contemporary style, drawing inspiration from landscape paintings (Pinyin: ‘shan shuǐ’, meaning ‘mountain-water’), and challenging traditional notions of Chinese representational art.
Using linear Plexiglas atop compressed Xuan paper saturated with expressive ink splatters, a tension is created between the viewer and the work, forming a divergent, painted reality. Ink stains are delivered with an atomiser rather than a traditional brush, exploring radical techniques in compositional arrangements. The folds and grooves of the calligraphy paper evoke the idiosyncrasies of painting and introduce sculptural characteristics.
-
As a side note: These works were partly inspired by the music of Henryk Górecki, specifically Symphony No. 3 – “Symphony of Sorrowful Songs”. The symphonic yearning is reflected in the somnolent and contemplative nature of these visually monotonic works.