Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist

ABOUT THE WORK

The mystical symbol of the ens? or circle has figured prominently in the works of contemporary artist Lao Lianben. In Zen, the ens? represents the strength of character, nothingness, and enlightenment. The 6thcentury Japanese text titled the Shihinmei refers to the way of Zen as “a circle of vast space, lacking nothing and holding nothing in excess.” The nothingness present in the ens? embodies the expanse of contradiction trapped within the circle, representing the endless cycle of struggling and overcoming. This resonates deeply with the artistic praxis of Lao, particularly in this piece titled Under the Influence. In this work, Lao renders the ens? in its scarred magnificence. The artist invites us to revel in quietude as we solemnly engross ourselves in the presence of the circle. In Zen, rendering the ens? requires disciplined spontaneity, as it is drawn or painted in a single stroke, capturing the unvarnished emotions of the painter as they skillfully charge the canvas with their personality and spirituality. Therefore, the piece encapsulates Lao in the act of meditation. As such, this piece can be seen as Lao’s self-portrait, as it captures him in the sublimity of his unveiled spiritual temperament. When the ens? is closed, it symbolizes perfection. When the ens? is not closed, i.e., incomplete, it represents the inherent beauty in imperfection. In Japanese aesthetics, this pertains to the concept of wabi-sabi, which the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy dissects into two interrelated concepts, wabi (“subdued, austere beauty”) and sabi (“rustic patina” or the beauty of the passage of time). One must not change or alter the appearance of the ens? once they have rendered it, for its beauty comes from its maker’s genuine expressiveness while painting it. It is perfectly imperfect. However, in this work, it is uncertain whether the ens? is complete or not. A single striking brushstroke penetrates the circle, making this a matter of obscurity. Here, Lao blurs the line between perfection and imperfection. The “line” penetrating the inside of the circle symbolizes harmony realized and attained in the face of life’s roughness and the frailty of mortal existence. The ens? also symbolizes the circle of life. Relating this to Lao’s work, life is an endless cycle of struggles and tribulations, a tug-of-war between attaining perfection and falling into imperfection. But Lao reminds us of one thing: contradictions are inherent in life. Embracing those contradictions through practicing tranquility amid confusion (seijaku) will lead us to understand that contradictions form part of our humanity. We must accept this (stark) reality, and there is always this path that is enlightenment—the realization of the oneness of things—to attain spiritual awakening and renewal to overcome those contradictions every time. We shall let go of all expectations. We can never achieve perfection, but we can always strive toward harmony. What we lack in perfection is fulfilled by our strength of spirit and character. We are always under the influence of life’s contradictions and imperfections and only learn how to navigate it through meditation. We are also under the influence of meditation, only if we commit to it our spiritual well-being. This is in itself a contradiction, and that is the allure of existence. Zen has always revolved around the enigmatic, and perhaps, this is what Lao instills in his viewer: the mysterious beauty inherent in imperfection, realized through solitude and contemplation toward the elusive path that is enlightenment. (A.M.)