Vine 21-03

Living in Nanjing, a historic city with a rich cultural heritage, Lu Hui draws his inspiration from the present work from the vines and rattans growing on the over twenty-five-kilometre long City Wall constructed in the Ming Dynasty. These plants thrive in gaps between the bricks and witness the vicissitude of civilizations for more than six hundred years as part of the Wall. He refers to the concept of mono no aware—" an empathy toward things"—in Japanese tradition, as well as the Chinese saying "vessels carry ways, objects pass affections." By painstakingly depicting these inconspicuous beings, Lu wanted to convey his reverence and appreciation towards life. He intentionally compresses the space between the rattans and the surface of the Wall to the extent that they almost appear flattened and abstract. This technique grants the painting a historic quality while maintaining a realistic figuration. While Lu uses traditional ink painting techniques, his circuitous process makes the viewing experience full of challenges and surprises.