Still life with bronze vessels and flowering plants 1894

This ten-panel screen, made by Owon in the late 19th century, showcases a collection of bronze vessels and flowering plants, rendered with ink and color on paper. The vessels, reminiscent of ancient ritual objects, carry a profound symbolic weight, representing continuity, reverence, and the enduring connection to ancestors. Notice how these forms echo across time and cultures. The basic shapes and functions of these vessels—for containing, presenting, and honoring—reappear in the amphorae of ancient Greece, the chalices of medieval Europe, and even the humble vases of our own homes. The plants, meanwhile, introduce themes of transience and renewal, their blooms a reminder of life's cyclical nature. These contrasting symbols create a powerful tension, engaging us on a subconscious level. Perhaps it is a primal recognition of the eternal dance between mortality and memory, prompting a deep emotional resonance within the viewer. The cyclical progression of these symbols underscores their timeless quality; they resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings, inviting us to contemplate the enduring power of the past.