Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist

ABOUT THE WORK

Lao Lianben’s fascination with the tranquility of Zen Buddhism bleeds into his minimalist oeuvre. Captivated by the silence and meditation the religion practices, Lao’s works invite introspection as he basks in the quietude his pieces evoke. “Zen Buddhism principles, practices, and mysticism have always fascinated me,” said Lao in a 2023 interview with Lifestyle Inquirer. “When I observe monks in their daily way of life, they allow me to imagine and create stories in my head. My eyes enable me to form ideas and come up with motifs for my paintings.” This contemplative nature is evident in this 2015 Listen to the Stone. Depicting a row of nine stones lined up on top of an elevated plank, Lao experiments with textures as he portrays vertical lines akin to a pouring rain. Zen Buddhism, by virtue, is more than just meditation and contemplation— all manner of activities are considered practices for Zen discipline, aimed at focusing the mind to work towards spiritual awakening. As such, even landscape gardening could be a Zen practice in which the layout of one’s garden corresponds to a Buddhist tenet. In this practice, rock and its position hold great importance, as large rocks symbolize stability, strength, and endurance, with the mindful way they are lined up representing vigilance and contemplation. To listen to the stones, as the title suggests, means to embody “compassionate listening” – mere listening is not enough, for one must listen without judgment. Lao invites his viewers to dwell in deliberate silence and listen without preconceived biases. Listen to the Stone shows a core tenet of a Lao piece – and indeed, of Buddhism – which is to listen compassionately. They must earnestly take a path toward unbridled contemplation, the austerity of Zen with which one must live their lives. (Hannah Valiente)