ABOUT THE WORK

More often than not, the act of viewing a work by lauded abstractionist Lao Lianben is one that extends itself to encapsulate almost all of the five senses. Whether it’s the sense of stillness one derives from viewing the sparseness of Lao’s minimalist elements or the atmosphere of silence that often accompanies the proper viewing of his works, encountering one of his works is not one that is only purely visual, but one that blankets the audience with an experience unlike any other. In this piece titled Substance, Lao subverts the often two-dimensional aspect of his artistry by extending his canvas into a three-dimensional space. The work, which when viewed from a neutral angle, initially presents itself as a flat piece whose strokes exhibit a downward flow. Yet, when viewed properly and in its entirety, one sees how the work takes on a more sculptural form, allowing the viewer to engage with Lao’s wellspring of black, white, silver, and gold on a much more personal and ultimately human level. Given that Lao himself has noted that he often draws inspiration from both everyday life and nature, it is no surprise that Substance is similar to a number of natural occurrences. Its dark and mysterious ridges are akin to the slow yet inevitable march of lava pouring out of the crater of a volcano. One can also compare the piece to a patch of fresh earth at daybreak after a stormy night, ready to pour its contents into a nearby river or creek. Yet what makes Substance an undoubtedly seminal work by Lao is its ability to communicate movement through stillness. It manages to capture the mind’s eye, drawing it into its visual rhythm as a way to fully convey a true aesthetic experience. More than just a work of art, to experience Substance is to experience a true master at work.