Zen

Executed in 1970, Zen sits at the pinnacle of Lui Shou Kwan’s most revered period, the last decade of his life when a deep fascination with Buddhism profoundly transformed his artistic output. In his iconic Zen paintings, the artist established a powerful visual idiom to represent the lotus, a symbol for eternity, purity, and Buddhahood. With dense ink applied with bursting energy and spontaneity, the lotus leaves are heightened by the red paint, hinting at the moment of epiphany, inviting viewers to meditate upon the artist’s lifelong pursuit of Zen.