Fragrance of lotus 2019

Dayou Lu made this painting, Fragrance of Lotus, using ink and color on paper. I can almost feel the artist stretching and leaning in to make these marks. Look at the watery, translucent washes, the way the paper seems to breathe beneath the paint. The blossoms emerge from fields of vivid green and orange, with quick strokes and inky outlines, like memories of shapes. What’s so beautiful is how the artist lets each colour do its thing, bleeding and mixing right there on the surface. I imagine Lu standing, brush in hand, really feeling the pull between control and letting go. Is that a bird perched among the flowers? I like how painting allows for these surprises, where you start with one idea and end up somewhere totally unexpected. It feels like the work of other painters I admire, like Joan Mitchell or Helen Frankenthaler, who trusted their instincts and weren't afraid to make a mess. Ultimately, painting is a conversation, an exchange of ideas and feelings across time.