Lotus under the sun 2001

Wu Guanzhong made this lotus painting sometime in the 20th or 21st century with ink and colour on paper. What strikes me is the pure joy of the pink. It’s applied in these loose, wet washes, which makes the whole piece feel light and airy. You can almost feel the brush dancing across the page. Look at the negative space between the lotus petals, how the white of the paper becomes part of the composition, creating a sense of depth and movement. Then there are these graphic black lines, anchoring the composition and giving it structure, like the bare bones of a beautiful song. It’s not trying to be photo-realistic. It’s more about capturing the essence of a lotus, its fleeting beauty, and the feeling of being in a garden on a summer’s day. It reminds me a little of Joan Mitchell, with its expressive brushwork and bold use of colour. But where Mitchell's work can feel stormy and intense, this feels much more serene, but both artists really knew how to create a feeling with just a few marks. It’s like they are sharing secrets with you.