Category: Art and Culture
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A Conversation with a Skull
In this post, I share one of my favorite Daoist stories: Zhuangzi’s “The Death’s-Head.” It offers a clear, direct perspective on life, death, and the burdens we carry. To accompany the text, I included several of my own skull paintings that reflect my thoughts on form, emptiness, and the natural balance of yin and yang.
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Lang Lang in Vienna and Other Music Anecdotes
What happens when you go skinny-dipping in a Carinthian stream with jazz legend Don Cherry, or watch Friedrich Gulda attack an amplified clavichord with a knife and fork? This personal reflection looks back on a golden era of musical rebellion in 1970s Austria and offers some insights into the world of classical music, the avant-garde,…
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Every Day an Adventure, Every Day a Joy
It might sound a bit cliché, but our time in Heshun has been one adventure after another. We even canceled our planned trip to Mangshi because the area simply has too much to offer. In this post, I share our change of plans, a great reunion with friends who drove all the way from Beijing…
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The Abundance of Modesty
Delving into Daoist philosophy and the pictographic wisdom of Chinese calligraphy, this article unpacks the ancient proverb that “Modesty Brings Abundance” (謙受益). Grounding this profound concept in personal experiences, the author reflects on how the humility of an “empty vessel” allows one to receive a true overflow of friendship, knowledge, and spiritual wealth.
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One planet, many perspectives
A deep dive into the La Gacilly-Baden Photo Festival under the theme ‘One Planet, Many Perspectives.’ This review journeys from the rituals of Papua New Guinea to the paradoxes of modern development, exploring powerful photography that confronts our world’s greatest challenges and finds a path to understanding, mindfulness, and ultimately, hope.
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On Giving, Taking, and What Truly Matters
From a Cambodian tuk-tuk driver to quantum physics, explore the profound layers behind the Dalai Lama’s simple advice: “Be kind.” A journey into the power of giving and true connection.
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Would You buy a used Car from this Man?
“Would you buy a used car from this man?” This isn’t just a provocative question; it’s the title of what is likely my first, and probably last, article focusing on political topics. Breaking my own blog’s golden rule, I dive deep into the unsettling power of images and words, and how they actively sculpt new…
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Spring Potpourri
Spring potpourri. Embrace spring! My latest post shares moments of peace found in nature’s embrace, as well as delicious seasonal delights.
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The Gift of the Green Snake
“The Gift of the Green Snake” might sound like clickbait, but it carries a ring of truth. In this post, I share a few new drawings inspired by a recent Wu Opera performance I attended in Vienna. The show was a revelation that brought back memories from forty years ago, when I lived at the…
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Wabi Sabi and the Aesthetics of Imperfection
In this article, I share my personal approach to Wabi Sabi, a philosophy deeply rooted in Zen Buddhism and Daoism. Going beyond the well-known art of repairing broken pottery, I explore the natural balance of perfection and imperfection through my own recent paintings.
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Andy Warhol, a Corpse, Opium, and a Botched Tribunal
“Andy Warhol, a Corpse in the Water, Opium, and a Botched Tribunal” might sound like clickbait, but it is all true. In this post, I share the background of my upcoming publication in the China Report, which features a selection of my surviving black-and-white photos from my years in China. I also reflect on my…
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The Silk Road: Personal Reflections
A contemplative look at the Silk Road’s cultural heritage and its influence on artistic expression. The article explores symbolism, cross‑cultural exchange, travel impressions and the timeless dialogue between Eastern and Western traditions.
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Delving into the Realm of Seals on Artwork
A reflection on the role of seals in artwork, exploring tradition, authenticity and symbolism. The article examines how personal seals convey identity, how their placement influences meaning, and how the practice connects contemporary work with historical artistic culture.
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Birthday present from Confucius
I recently turned 70, which brings up the inevitable question of how to react to a round birthday. Since I don’t celebrate and skip the gifts, I’m just sharing a few thoughts on aging and a fitting joke about why being 20 in the 70s was a lot more fun than being 70 in the…
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Wabi-Sabi, Japanese Paper & the Beauty of Empty Space
On wabi-sabi minimalism, the sensory beauty of Japanese and Chinese paper, and Tanizaki Jun’ichiro’s reflections on white space and shadow in Asian aesthetics
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a poem about one of my paintings
A spontaneous collaboration with poet Dominik Alexander. The post recounts how a late‑night discovery of one of his poems led to contact, quick agreement and a new poem written freely about one of the artist’s paintings. It reflects on creative exchange, earlier collaborations, shared views on writing, and the idea of responding with a painting…
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Ego vs. Self in Daoism: A Western & Asian View
We all have an ego, but a misguided one can lead to suffering for ourselves and others. In this post, I contrast the Western understanding of the ego with the perspectives of Daoism and Zen Buddhism, and explore how an untamed ego can make even the most powerful people stumble.
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Dao in Chinese Poetry: Li Bai and Du Fu
A brief note on Daoist ideas within Chinese poetry. The post comments on themes such as emptiness, nature, balance and the subtle way classical poets hint at the Dao without naming it. It keeps a calm, reflective tone and pairs the text with a small ink piece echoing the same spirit.
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Criticism: Not amused with the Emperor
While my posts usually focus on art and Asian philosophy, today I am sharing a few historical examples of resistance and criticism by Chinese artists. Throughout history, figures like Su Shi used their craft to voice dissent against the system, often facing exile as a result. Although I avoid modern political issues, examining these historical…
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Project in the home straight – almost
As I mentioned after the Theodor Storm project, I am currently illustrating a new book by Prof. Wolfgang Kubin called “Das Buch der Zähren” (The Book of Tears). This project comes with specific challenges, starting with the archaic title and the requirement that all illustrations be printed in black and white. Since many of my…
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Jean-Michel Basquiat Exhibition at the Albertina, Vienna
Jean Michel Basquiat Exhibition in Vienna: I finally visited this important exhibition, experiencing a stark contrast between profound inspiration and artistic doubt.
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Falco & the Vienna Music Scene of the 1970s
A personal account of Vienna’s 1970s underground music scene, the Bona Mente art studio, and its connection to Falco and other rising stars.
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Gold, History, Friends, Sinology and Luxury
I am currently sorting through material to create a new series of video clips showcasing my portraits. To bring some visual luxury to the week, I also completed a new piece featuring a touch of gold leaf. Outside the studio, I attended a reading by the renowned sinologist Professor Wolfgang Kubin at the historic Café…
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Farewell Beijing, Hello Chongqing: A Traveling Exhibition
Travel memories from China — a 1979 journey up the Yangtze, encounters with painter Xue Mingde, and reflections on decades of change in Chongqing.
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Dreamtellers
The Surrealists really turned my world around. First was André Breton who opened the door to this world for me. Then came the painters like Max Ernst, Giorgio de Chirico etc.
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How We See – A Short Article on Perception
I share a few thoughts on visual perception and how our habits shape what we see. Using a hollow face illusion, Roy Lichtenstein’s sculptures, and photography by Mike Utley, I compare Western and Asian perspectives. We can see how different cultural backgrounds influence composition, such as using multiple vanishing points or focusing on the communication…
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Metaverse Project Started (II)
prologue and reflections After my last 2 postings on Kabul and Pyongyang (in the broadest sense also a kind of metaverse 😊) I would like to come back to my personal metaverse today and in the following postings to come. In the first post on this topic metaverse, I presented initial attempts to devote myself…
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Waltzing Corona: A Triptych on Balance and Yin-Yang
An abstract triptych reflecting on Vienna’s ball season during the pandemic, explained through Chinese principles of balance and yin-yang.
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Sketches of Chinese Minority People
Forty-year-old charcoal sketches of Chinese minority people from a 1980s journey.
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A Homage to Gerhard Richter and Hideaki Yamanobe
A graphic work paying homage to Gerhard Richter’s “Cloud” and Hideaki Yamanobe’s monotypes, made after visiting a Richter exhibition in Vienna.
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The Principle of the Balance in Chinese Painting
In the first part of “The Essence of Chinese Painting,” I explore the fundamental principle of dynamic balance. Unlike Western art, which relies on a static scale, Chinese painting uses a dynamic scale. This approach contrasts heavy, visible brushstrokes with the powerful counterweight of empty space. Whether in a single character or Ma Yuan’s one-corner…
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Sketches from the Peking Opera
Charcoal sketches of Peking Opera performances made in Beijing in 1979, mounted in a traditional Chinese album.
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When I First Met Lu Yanshao 陸儼少
A memory of watching landscape painter Lu Yanshao demonstrate his slow, deliberate brushwork at the Central Academy of Fine Arts.
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Chinese Seal Carving: History and Key Terms
A look at the history and key terms of Chinese seal carving, and its deep connection to Chinese painting and calligraphy.