Summer Begins ｜2021

Summer Begins depicts the official start of the summer season, as the land gradually heats up and all living things stretch out comfortably under the sunlight. It signals a time full of vitality, maturity, and new beginnings—a peak time for farmers. The work features layers of bright green and golden hues intertwined, depicting the sun casting its warm glow over the Earth. Hidden at the bottom of the painting is the inscription "Beginning of Summer", alongside a symbol, echoing the grand natural rhythm described in the I Ching: the waxing and waning of yin and yang—an endless cycle.

The dazzling interplay of colors and light reveals the vibrant life force of all living things. This moment marks not only the peak of the farming season but also a crucial phase in the Earth's energy cycle, when careful balance and rhythm are required amidst the sweltering heat to avoid burnout and maintain well-being. When the sun shines brightest and life flourishes, it also carries the wisdom of regulation and equilibrium. Thus, Summer Begins carries with it the ancient wisdom of moderation and harmony, reminding us of the importance of balancing opposing forces as the seasons shift.

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The Four Seasons series explores the 24 solar terms, with Spring Begins, Summer Begins, Autumn Begins, and Winter Begins as its foundation, symbolizing the start and transitions of the four seasons. These are not only key time markers in the agricultural society but also reflections of cosmic rhythms. Using the layered raindrop painting technique, combined with shapes and text, the work merges ancient Dao wisdom with contemporary forms of expression. The four canvases respond to the natural cycle of renewal and echo the periodic changes in life and time, forming a visual feast centered on the rhythms and wisdom of Heaven and Earth.