Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner

ABOUT THE WORK

Lao Lianben’s enigmatic masterpieces act as a metaphysical medium to convey his inner sense of spirituality and profound understanding of the world around him. In this piece titled Harmony, Lao invites us to stare at the center, in which a portal-like structure strikingly stands. Surrounding the figure are Lao’s signature white palette and textured strokes that seemingly pulsate upon closer look. The masterfully textured strokes reinforce the importance of the central figure. By now, we are soothingly thrust towards the entrancing gateway—a portal to the stillness of inner being. With Lao’s every throbbing yet calming brushstroke comes the cleansing of the depths of our psyche. For Lao, contradictions are inherent in this world; they have been here from the moment we were conceived, and they are bound to stay even after we die. Amid this inevitable circumstance comes the choice of whether to let ourselves succumb to the abyss of inaction and stagnation; or to unabatingly steer towards that enlightening path of accepting the universality of contradictions through an unfaltering determination to struggle against and continuously overcome these elements. Lao evokes the Japanese enduring philosophical concept of wabi-sabi, constantly searching for beauty amid the madness, imperfection, irregularities, and of course, contradictions. Lao’s signature white composition in this work becomes more powerful than ever: it is now a powerful symbol of willpower, wisdom, and freedom from the bondage of apprehensions brought by conflict. It is only through accepting the absoluteness of contradictions that one engenders a sense of clarity THE SPECTACULAR MID-YEAR AUCTION 2023 5 6 and transcendence—a liberating deliverance from the trepidation and tensions of the corporeal to sublimely entering the fulfillment of enlightenment and inner peace. Begging bowls are ubiquitous to Buddhist monks, symbolizing their willingness to receive the dharma, Buddha’s teachings. But in the case of Lao and his art, it is the act of receiving and letting in the inner spirit that emanates from within, one that engenders harmony in one’s being and brings out the mysticism and inherent serenity of his art. (A.M.)