Artist StatementRinpung Monastery in Motuo sits at the heart of Xizang’s secret lotus land, a sacred site where Padmasambhava once practiced Buddhism. While trekking the pilgrimage trail, I chanced upon a primeval forest. Wandering through moss-covered trees, I spotted clusters of Rubus wardii hidden beneath the woodland canopy, their vivid scarlet berries catching my eye. I plucked one and tasted it; its rich, tangy wild sweetness burst across my tongue, instantly flooding my mind with childhood memories of roaming the hills—these wild berries had been my greatest delight back then.This work adopts a realistic style built with multi-layer glazing techniques unique to watercolor. Layered washes render plump, translucent berries and capture dappled sunlight filtering through the forest. The foliage blends wet and dry brushwork: deep saturated pigments anchor shadowed areas, while wet blending evokes the steamy, misty atmosphere of the rainforest. Varying shades of dark green carve out the profound depth of the dense woods, freezing that splash of crimson tucked away in remote mountains and buried in childhood recollection alike.Titled Encounter with Wilderness, the painting captures two meetings: my unexpected discovery of wild Rubus wardii deep in Motuo’s mountains, and my reunion with the free, unruly child I once was, running wild across open hills. Prayer flags flutter faintly from the distant monastery. Within this hidden mountain realm, a single wild berry bridges the present moment and the distant innocence of childhood.
Artist StatementRinpung Monastery in Motuo sits at the heart of Xizang’s secret lotus land, a sacred site where Padmasambhava once practiced Buddhism. While trekking the pilgrimage trail, I chanced upon a primeval forest. Wandering through moss-covered trees, I spotted clusters of Rubus wardii hidden beneath the woodland canopy, their vivid scarlet berries catching my eye. I plucked one and tasted it; its rich, tangy wild sweetness burst across my tongue, instantly flooding my mind with childhood memories of roaming the hills—these wild berries had been my greatest delight back then.This work adopts a realistic style built with multi-layer glazing techniques unique to watercolor. Layered washes render plump, translucent berries and capture dappled sunlight filtering through the forest. The foliage blends wet and dry brushwork: deep saturated pigments anchor shadowed areas, while wet blending evokes the steamy, misty atmosphere of the rainforest. Varying shades of dark green carve out the profound depth of the dense woods, freezing that splash of crimson tucked away in remote mountains and buried in childhood recollection alike.Titled Encounter with Wilderness, the painting captures two meetings: my unexpected discovery of wild Rubus wardii deep in Motuo’s mountains, and my reunion with the free, unruly child I once was, running wild across open hills. Prayer flags flutter faintly from the distant monastery. Within this hidden mountain realm, a single wild berry bridges the present moment and the distant innocence of childhood.