bamboo 2015

Chaokun Wang made this photograph titled ‘bamboo,’ and it presents a study in contrasts. The monochrome palette gives it a timeless feel, right? It’s like looking into a memory, where details soften and the overall form takes precedence. The composition is so simple, just these vertical bamboo stalks, yet it’s how they play against the inky background that grabs me. Look at the way light gently traces the edges of the bamboo, giving them this almost ethereal glow. The texture is palpable, you can almost feel the smooth, hard surface of the bamboo against your fingertips. But for me, what really elevates this piece is the rhythm of those repeating segments on each stalk. It creates this visual beat that echoes through the entire composition, a kind of natural music. It reminds me of Agnes Martin's grids, in the sense that it finds a kind of meditative space through repetition and simplicity. It’s a reminder that art doesn’t always need to shout; sometimes, it whispers.