Welcome to the complete collection of articles published on zettl.blog. Here you will find essays on Chinese painting, calligraphy, Daoism, Zen Buddhism, aesthetics, contemporary ink art and artistic practice, together with reflections on travel, culture and creativity.
While the Arts and Philosophy Journal presents selected themes and featured essays, this page serves as a comprehensive archive, allowing readers to explore every article published on the site.
Complete Archive
-
On the Borders of Minimalism
How much can I leave out before an image loses its life? Photographs from Lake Neusiedl lead from ordinary wooden supports towards almost calligraphic forms. A personal experiment in framing, repetition and empty space—and…
-
The Empty Boat — 虚舟 (Xū Zhōu)
Which painting best represents where I stand in 2026? The Empty Boat begins with Zhuangzi, ego and a rather unusual fish, while a second painting leads to a different question: what happens when a…
-
Meditations on a Single Note
What can a single musical note teach us about attention? Beginning with the sound of a gong in a Peace Stupa, this is a personal meditation on listening, silence, creativity – and the worlds…
-
Doors Between Worlds – China and Austria
A photographic journey through doors and gates in China and Austria – from ancient temple entrances and Yunnan village doors to Viennese Jugendstil, with a few thoughts about the worlds we choose to open…
-
How to Kill Your Muse
An eventful summer between painting, tax troubles, SEO, AI and book cover design. Somewhere in between, my muse took a few shots – but fortunately, she seems rather hard to kill.
-
From SEO to Water Lilies
This post covers two major themes from my summer. First, I share a refreshing trip to the Kuenringerbad in Dürnstein, a natural swimming pond where you can swim right next to water lilies beneath…
-
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…
-
Nature’s Calligraphy: The Art of Seeing
We see how we think. What occupies our mind directly shapes our vision. In this post, I share a series of photos of ducks and swans that document my artistic shift from visual abundance…
Browse by Topic
Chinese Painting
Explore articles on xieyi, brushwork, landscape painting, artistic traditions and Chinese aesthetics.
Browse Chinese Painting Articles →
Calligraphy
Essays on Chinese calligraphy, painted calligraphy, seal carving and the expressive language of the brush.
Daoism and Zen
Articles exploring Daoist philosophy, Zen Buddhism, emptiness, Wabi-Sabi and artistic contemplation.
Contemporary Ink Art
Contemporary approaches to ink painting, abstraction, gesture and artistic experimentation.
Art Theory
Thoughts on aesthetics, artistic concepts and the relationship between Eastern and Western traditions.
Travel and Culture
Essays inspired by journeys through Asia, museums, artists and cultural encounters.
Recommended Reading
If you are new to the journal, these selected essays offer an introduction to some of the central themes explored on zettl.blog.
- Nothingness in Color
- Wabi-Sabi – The Beauty in the Imperfect
- Emperor Huizong and the Spirit of Chinese Painting
- Light as State of Being: Light in Painting and Contemporary Ink Art
- What is Reality? What is Nothingness?
Related Pages
Continue exploring the ideas, artworks and artistic practice behind the articles.
Discover featured essays and thematic introductions.
Explore the philosophical background of Chinese painting and contemporary ink art.
See how many of these ideas are transformed into paintings and calligraphy.