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 Articles Archive on Abstract art, Calligraphy, Travel, and the Philosophy of Daoism and Zen.
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Turning Moments into Light
A misheard line in Spinning Away becomes a playful meeting of Brian Eno’s songs and my paintings. From scattered marks to fading light and an open sea, each pairing follows a shared movement without…
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Just Crossing the Border
A short journey across the Austrian border becomes a walk through Znojmo’s doors, worn façades, medieval paintings and churches. Along the way: echoes of the monarchy, glass, cherubs and late-afternoon light over the Thaya.
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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…
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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…
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Meditations on a Single Note
What can a single musical note teach us about attention? Beginning with the sound of a bell in a Peace Stupa, this is a personal meditation on listening, silence, creativity – and the worlds…
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Doors Between Worlds – China and Austria
Doors and gates photographed in China and Austria: a sunburst door on the Schneeberg, weathered village entrances in Yunnan and a few Viennese surprises. A personal reflection on changing sides and opening new perspectives.
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How to Kill Your Muse
A summer of painting, apricot picking, tax paperwork and website repairs. New variations on The Last Rag and four poetry-book cover drafts bring me back to the work that matters most.
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From SEO to Water Lilies
A summer divided between revising my website and swimming among water lilies at Dürnstein. Photographs from the Kuenringerbad lead to a few personal reflections on search visibility and finding new readers.
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A Conversation with a Skull
A skull answers Zhuangzi in a dream and overturns his assumptions about life and death. A short retelling from chapter 18 of the Zhuangzi, accompanied by five of my earlier works.
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.