Tag: contemporary ink painting
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Visual Response to “The Last Rag” by Soundeagle
Can you translate the “ragged time” of a contemporary piano piece into a visual language? Following a casual comment on a previous article, I took on the challenge of graphically interpreting soundeagle’s composition. Moving away from traditional calligraphy, I chose to take the word “rag” literally—creating an aesthetic of use where soft, faded layers of…
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Light as State of Being: Light in Painting and Contemporary Ink Art
“Light as State of Being” explores the depiction of light in painting – from the academic studio through the Impressionists to my own attempt to make Ur-light and cosmic light tangible in images.
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When the World Shatters
This article explores the systemic collapse of our modern world, where the high art of diplomacy is being replaced by the “right of the strongest” and international institutions are systematically undermined. From the razed olive groves in Gaza to the manipulation of global financial markets through leveraged options, the text examines how greed and the…
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Before I Gotta Go: Minimalism, Dreams and Surreal Ink Painting
“Before I gotta go…” is an article about a new series on dreams, marking a deliberate departure from minimalism in favor of abstract depth. It introduces the concept of the “Oneiric Divide”—visualizing not the story of a dream, but the raw energy it leaves behind—and offers a glimpse into my upcoming dialogue on “Dot and…
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Don’t let the old man in
Don’t let the old man in is more than just a song title; it is a directive for maintaining an open spirit against bitterness. This article explores that mindset by contrasting striking political imagery with the artistic independence of my 2025 Yearbook, proving that staying young is a matter of attitude, not age.
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Terra Dystopia
Terra Dystopia, a new series of artworks, serves as the starting point for an essay on the core characteristics of a dystopian society, questioning how many of these once-fictional traits have become our reality.
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Cracks in the Silence
“Cracks in the silence” is about our fractured times and the eroding foundation of global rules and humanity. I initially wanted to write a political article about this rising pressure and fading reason. But I discarded the idea—those who would read it already know how the game is played. In this post, I reflect on…
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State of the Art 2025
State of the Art 2025 is my contribution this year to an ongoing series of “self-portraits.” For years, these pieces have documented my creative journey, reflecting the current status of my work.
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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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Goodbye to the Winter
In traditional Chinese painting, the unpainted white space is often considered more important than the black ink. In this post, I challenge this balance of opposites by painting on black paper, shifting the focus so the unpainted black areas demand special attention. I share three new abstract works that explore the journey from winter’s darkness…
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Meditation of the Zen Master
In this third and final part of our journey to the Zen Master, I share key insights into my understanding of Zen. Using my artwork, I explore these concepts and the essential balance of opposites that shapes both Zen and Dao. We also continue our playful experiment with AI analyzing the images, focusing on the…
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The Dao of Annual Planning in 2024
A look at annual artistic planning and how creative priorities evolve over time. The article reflects on long‑term projects, shifting focus, the balance between structure and intuition, and the ongoing process of aligning artistic goals with personal development.
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Blind Drawings: Artistic Expression in Darkness
“Blind Drawings” is an experimental series of over twenty charcoal works created in a completely dark room with my eyes closed. By intentionally removing light from the process, I bypassed conventional techniques to explore the essential balance of opposites—light and darkness, conscious control and pure intuition. In this post, I share how embracing this sensory…
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Daoist Aspects in My Paintings
A deep dive into Daoist influences in contemporary ink painting, focusing on emptiness, opposites, Zen elements and the interplay with quantum‑physics concepts. This article reflects on Nothingness, minimalism, perception and the resonance between philosophy and artistic practice.
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Visit of the old Zen Master and other Nonzens
I don’t actually know a physical Zen master, but his presence is still felt. In this post, I explore him as a teacher through a few grains of wisdom and semi-haiku. I also share my attempts to visually portray this master by finding the exact line where the concrete and the abstract meet. It is…
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Summer Inventory
I conduct a summer inventory twice a year to bring a sense of order to my paintings. In this post, I share a diverse collection of hidden works and high-quality “leftovers” that did not quite fit into previous articles. Revisiting and reworking these forgotten pieces reflects the essential balance of opposites—finding value in what was…
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Emptiness, Space, and Depth
Many artists explore space and depth in their work, qualities that are often less prominent in modern painting. In this post, I examine these themes and share how navigating a recent crisis led me to simplify and reduce my own art to its core. This process of release is deeply inspired by Zen Buddhism and…
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Essence in Art: Less is More
A reflection on the essence in art, exploring reduction, clarity and presence. The article examines how removing the non‑essential reveals deeper meaning, how simplicity sharpens perception, and how artistic expression becomes more direct when guided by essential qualities.
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break on through
A reflection on artistic breakthroughs and the moment when creative energy pushes beyond familiar limits. The article explores resistance, momentum, uncertainty and the transformative shift that occurs when an artist breaks through into new expressive territory.
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Selection of New Works
A presentation of new works highlighting evolving motifs, fresh energy and shifts in artistic focus. The article reflects on how recent pieces explore variation, gesture, rhythm and the continuous development of expressive ink painting.
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Between Calligraphy and Painting
When I hit a dead point in my painting and the dynamism fades, I turn to calligraphy. In this post, I explain how calligraphy serves as the foundation of Chinese art—much like drawing does in the West—and I share a few new works to show how this practice directly influences my paintings.
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Birthday present from Confucius and
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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new yearbook is out
A reflection on assembling a new yearbook, capturing artistic milestones, evolving themes and personal highlights. The article explores how a year’s work forms a visual narrative, how selection shapes meaning, and how the process reveals development across time.
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day dream job
A reflection on daydreaming as a creative state, exploring drifting thoughts, intuitive imagery and gentle abstraction. The article examines how imagination flows into artistic expression, how wandering attention reveals new motifs, and how daydreams shape subtle shifts in perception.
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Between Here and There
A reflection on the threshold between here and there — between waking and dreaming, expectation and authenticity. The article explores new works from the ‘Exit’ series, dramatic scenes from the Magic Sea project, and a childlike depiction of the fever‑night creeper, highlighting how perception shifts across states and artistic intentions.
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Between Cold and Heat
A reflection on the period between cold and heat — illness, recovery and the slowed artistic rhythm that comes with it. The article presents three AI‑supported portrait sessions, thoughts on aesthetics, resemblance, and the challenges of addressing charged global topics, all framed by the attempt to ‘come back into the light’.
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and the beat goes on
A reflection on ongoing artistic projects and reduced posting frequency. The article presents new Magic Sea imagery, experiments with wood and elephant‑dung paper, and a Firebird piece inspired by Stravinsky, all tied to the attempt to paint more directly and less intellectually — with the beat simply continuing.
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a kinda yin-yang too
A reflection on yin‑yang aspects in two new ink works, contrasting abstraction and figuration as well as ego and superego. The article explores shifting visual perception through AI engagement, the dilemma of artistic self‑analysis, and a promotional video created largely with AI. It concludes with a playful fantasy graphic and thoughts on AI as a…
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When the let-go period is over
Presentation: I have chosen a work that probably does not immediately cause a “love at first sight” feeling to everybod. Plus a book presentation video.
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not nothing this time, but
A playful reflection on developing catalog drafts for Dao and Zen, including minimalistic cover designs, room mock‑ups and a children’s‑book idea. The article shows how ink works appear in curated spaces, how AI assists with hanging and lighting, and how philosophical concepts can be introduced visually — even for kids.
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works on meditation
We produce tens of thousands of thoughts every day, but very few of them actually matter. This post explores the practice of meditation, dealing with a restless mind, and learning how to let our jumping thoughts simply fade away like passing clouds.
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about letting go
A reflection on flow within recent ink works, focusing on movement, rhythm and intuitive gesture. The article presents new pieces shaped by unforced expression, explores how brushwork becomes more direct, and considers how artistic flow emerges through practice, reduction and openness.
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What game shall we play today?
About knowing and believing. Quantum physicist Anton Zeilinger: “Sciences are good at measuring something, but cannot say anything about our being”.
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Cucumber cutting, abstracting and –
A brief note on cutting cucumbers and the small routines that shape a day. The text touches on simple gestures, quiet moments and the ease that comes from doing something familiar. A light, almost playful reminder of how ordinary actions can steady the mind.
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Two Links – TV Portrait and Dao Index
A brief reflection on a TV portrait broadcast in Austria and China. The post comments on diplomatic relations, long‑standing cultural ties, an updated Daoism index and a painting connected to Kokoschka’s tradition. A light mix of personal notes, context and artistic reference.
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Bada Shanren & the Daoist Concept of Ziran (Naturalness)
Ziran is a fundamental concept in Taoism that can be understood as “naturalness” or “spontaneity.” It refers to the inherent nature and self-so of all things, emphasizing the importance of following the natural flow of the universe rather than resisting or attempting to control it.
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environment and nature topic
A personal reflection on environmental destruction, political shell‑games, differing national metrics and the shock of a calculated ecological footprint. The post comments on the difficulty of addressing the topic artistically, presents two ink studies with divided scenes, cubist veils and hints of danger, and ends with a note on an upcoming TV portrait.
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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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The Magic Sea
Magic Sea Opera: Even if the idea that I would like to present today might sound unrealistic or at least utopian at first, I would by no means see it as unfeasible. Namely, the idea of an opera as a total work of art, in which the visual part is the actor
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new horizon
A brief note on recent ink works and a change in direction. The post comments on shifting motifs, new gestures, small studies and the feeling of moving toward a fresh horizon. It keeps a light tone, touching on rhythm, reduction and the quiet clarity that comes with adjusting one’s focus.
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Dao in Chinese Poetry. Daoist Talks (VII).
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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state of the art 2023 – a step further
A brief note on the artistic state of early 2023. The post comments on changing motifs, new studies, small shifts in rhythm and the feeling of entering a fresh phase. It keeps a light, direct tone, mixing simple observations with the calm clarity that comes from adjusting one’s direction.
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ginkgo leaves in autumn and winter
A brief note on ginkgo leaves and their unmistakable form. The post touches on their gentle fan shape, their long cultural history and the ease with which they lend themselves to ink work. It keeps a light tone, mixing simple observation with a quiet appreciation for a motif that never really loses its charm.
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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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Daoist talks (VI) Principles of Dao in Painting
As discussed in my previous art theory articles, Chinese painting over the last millennium is deeply rooted in Daoist ideas. It is safe to say that Chinese xie-yi (freehand painting) is essentially applied Daoism. Today, I examine an often overlooked aspect of Asian art theory that is crucial for understanding this style: living in harmony…
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Getting rid of the Blues…..
Since my work is usually heavily influenced by Chinese calligraphy, I decided to try a more Western approach this time. This new piece is a study. I could have kept working on it, but I chose to leave it exactly as it is to preserve its basic mood, contrasting with my usual contemporary ink painting.
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Painting Through Winter Depression: An Ink Art Series
A personal essay on coping with winter depression through ink painting, with a series of works tracing the mood from darkness to light.
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AI Tools for Presenting Ink Art & Book Illustrations
Over the holidays, I had a detailed conversation with my son about physics, quantum mechanics, and AI. While his scientific background makes him hesitant to engage with topics like Daoism, Zen Buddhism, or Asian art theory, our discussion took an unexpected turn. When we disagreed on certain AI concepts, we let a program settle the…
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How an idea takes root and persists
Some memories stay with us for a lifetime. I recall skipping class on a beautiful autumn day as a student and watching a mysterious dance of leaves floating down into the middle of a meadow. Years later, I translated this experience into contemporary ink painting. In this post, I also share a childhood winter memory…
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Because it’s Wednesday again…
I’ve started two new series that spill over into each other. I’ll explain how this idea came about in my next post, but today I want to present the fifth piece separately, as it is my favorite so far. It is closely connected to abstract calligraphy, Daoism, and Zen Art. The objects in this contemporary…
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New Works for Old Series
I have been painting a lot lately. Today, I am sharing new works that complement my ongoing series: gestural abstraction and abstract surrealism. My gestural pieces are closely tied to my calligraphy practice and contemporary ink painting. They rely heavily on Daoism and the constant balance of opposites (yin-yang) to guide the expression. Meanwhile, my…
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The Dreamweaver’s Daughters: Ink Paintings on Dreams
The world of dreams has always held a special meaning for me. During my years of figurative surrealism, I focused on illustrating specific dreams. Now, working with more abstract imagery, my approach has shifted. Today, my contemporary ink painting is no longer about illustrating a dream scene, but about depicting raw states of consciousness. In…
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Three New Abstract Ink Paintings on Zen and Dao
Three strikes: Today I would like to present 3 newer works and will not write much about them. The first is a play on Zen thought. In the sense of what was said above, it remains without further explanations.
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Daoist Talks (I): Zhuangzi’s Butterfly Dream in Ink Painting
Daoist Talks (I): While many beginners approach Daoism and Asian art theory through Laozi’s complex Dao De Jing, I find Zhuangzi’s profound and humorous stories much more accessible. Today, I revisit his famous butterfly dream—a key story about dissolving the boundary between subject and object. I also want to ask for your feedback. If you…
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From Daoism to Zen in Chinese Painting
An introduction to Daoism’s role in Chinese ink painting, tracing its evolution into Zen Buddhist aesthetics through two recent works and the six laws of Xie He.
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two book covers and one dragon
A short look at two book‑cover designs and a small dragon sketch. The post comments on layout, colour decisions, the practical side of preparing covers and the spontaneous humour behind the dragon. It keeps the tone relaxed, mixing design notes with a touch of playfulness.
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Book Cover Design – A Clean, Focused Draft
A brief reflection on creating a book cover. The post comments on layout, typography, colour decisions and the small adjustments needed to make a cover work. It keeps the tone simple and practical, pairing the text with a clean draft of the design.
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Too Young to Die – A Quiet Personal Note
A calm note on losing someone too young. The post touches on memory, the difficulty of finding words and the quiet weight such moments leave behind. It stays understated and pairs the reflection with a small ink work that mirrors the tone without exaggeration.
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Minor, Major and a Video – A Small Musical Note
It has been another busy week. The Chinese have an idiom for this: “qí hǔ nán xià” (it’s hard to dismount when you’re riding the tiger). To step back from this hyperactivity, I am sharing a relaxing video featuring my painted bookmarks, complete with a new intro and outro. I also present a new piece…
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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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Only One Picture This Time – “Rheingold”
A brief post featuring just one picture. The note keeps things simple, letting the image stand on its own without extra explanation. It’s a quiet moment, a small visual pause in between larger entries.
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goodbye beijing, hello chongqing
My upcoming exhibition has been relocated from Beijing to the Hong Art Museum in Chongqing. While it is a bit unfair that my paintings travel more than I do, the show will now run for eight weeks instead of four. This venue change brings back vivid memories of my earlier visits to the city. In…
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Understanding the “Zen Moment” in Painting
It can be annoying how twisted the Western approach to Zen often is. The phrase “Zen moment” doesn’t even exist in Japanese or Chinese, and my understanding of the subject has nothing to do with incense sticks, YouTube Reiki music, or herbal tea. I am bringing this up because, for decades, I have constantly tried…
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At Front page of Chinese Newspaper Again
The 光明日报 guangming daily has published a quite detailed report about me, and that on the front page. Last year an article about me, with a focus on calligraphy, appeared in this important newspaper,
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teaser for next exhibition
I’ve been needing a few short video clips for my work for a long time. With a little effort I was able to get something going myself, but then the result was too boring for me and I left this task to someone else.
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Études – Small Studies and Quiet Experiments
Etudes: If one looks up the English-language equivalent of the French term études in conventional dictionaries, the result is generally “studies”. Only when you translate it from a music-theoretical point of view do you come up with “etudes”.
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metaverse (V)
After my last post (metaverse IV) Schrödinger, his cat, you and I basically agreed that IS and NOT-IS can exist at the same time.
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metaverse (IV)
day & night and Schrödinger’s cat [1] I am very pleased that my postings on this topic are so well received and thank you for the general interest!After this posting today, one more on this topic will follow, but it will be easier to understand. Today it gets a little more complicated. When I present…
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metaverse (III)
the beginning and the end Short preliminary remark If I just started with my thoughts, there would be a certain danger of someone shouting: “Hey, that’s not scientific!” Two preliminary remarks are therefore permitted. All our thinking is based on previously thought and mostly we deal with premises. Such as A $100 bill has a…
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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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My Ukraine Contribution – A Small Personal Gesture
Recently, I read about an initiative for artists to paint sunflowers in response to the war in Ukraine. But I am not the type to just paint a given symbol on command. Still, artists must take a stand against barbarism. This led me to create an abstract work based on the classic dove of peace,…
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Studies for Oil Paintings – Early Ideas on Paper
A brief note on studies made in preparation for oil paintings. The post shows early ideas, loose sketches and small brush experiments that help clarify composition and mood. It keeps the tone simple and practical, treating these studies as quiet steps toward larger pieces.
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state of the art 2022
I recently resumed my annual self-portrait series, “state of the art.” Rather than a realistic likeness, these portraits reflect my current mental state and worldview. This latest piece started well, but a sophisticated scam attempt in my online trade distracted me. My annoyance led to a frustrating mistake—leaving fingerprints on wet ink, which ruined some…
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my kind of metaverse (I)
In February I started playing around with an idea, but I don’t know if it will become a series yet: It’s dedicated to the metaverse.
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Flyer for my Beijing Exhibition
Flyer for my exhibition in Beijing this spring. Honoring 50 years of cultural exchange between Europe and China.
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Cats in Chinese Painting
A brief note on cats in Chinese painting. The post comments on symbolism, traditional brushwork and the way this motif shifts between elegance and humour. It pairs the reflection with a small ink sketch that keeps the tone light and direct.
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The Meaning of a Dot in Chinese Painting & Calligraphy
On the surprising depth of a single dot in Chinese calligraphy — qi, the play of opposites, and how a beginner learns to paint with meaning.
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Light in Arts – A Short Reflection on Illumination
A brief note on how light shapes art. The post comments on contrast, atmosphere and the subtle ways illumination changes a piece. It keeps the tone simple and observational, paired with a small ink work that echoes the theme without overstating it.
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snow and ice and corona
I am sharing a few new works and studies that explore the idea of a “snow landscape in lockdown.” Branching out from my ongoing Corona series, these pieces reflect on Austria’s heavy reliance on winter tourism. Lockdowns here determine many fates and spark highly controversial, heated debates. I wanted to capture the sharp contrast between…
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watching the night
I have dealt with winter depression for decades, particularly during January and February. While these months used to be very stressful, I have learned to manage them better over the years. My main tool for this is processing these phases through my art. This is not a new series about depression, but simply a collection…
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new works in abstract surrealism
I often put aside started paintings to gain emotional distance, and the piece I am showing today is a typical example. I started it in December and stepped away after reaching a dead end. While I am most creative in the evenings, I always have to be careful not to work too long. When my…
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triptych variant
A few days ago, I presented a triptych. The underlying idea stayed with me, so I created another painting to see what a variant would look like by replacing one of the panels. After comparing the two, I decided the new constellation is not actually better. I will keep the original triptych as it is,…
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waltzing corona
My first painting this year is this triptych. I will take this as an opportunity to present my point of view, because if I can manage to explain the essential points clearly, you may look at Chinese art from a different perspective in the future.
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about my surrealist work
Decades ago, my early years of painting were marked by surrealism. Fascinated by authors like André Breton and Paul Éluard, I started with collages and later moved to oil paintings. But surrealism as an art concept was already falling out of fashion. Expressionism and Asian art soon exerted a greater influence on my work and…
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trying environment topic
This is a complex topic I plan to discuss in more detail soon. I chose a landscape construction because it is the easiest way to depict the subject. The composition uses two vanishing points that create a strong force field. The upper point is calm and contemplative, looking out over a river. The lower point…
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new territories to explore
I am taking a deliberate break from my Corona series. Bathing in lukewarm water makes you anemic, so I needed a change. My latest works capture that blurry state of limbo you feel when completely absorbed in music. And with those finished, I am turning to two new topics: tributes to artists and the world…
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corona and the sea
Graphing Covid-19 is a difficult undertaking. I want to make the invisible visible and convey feelings of fear, isolation, and restriction. A semi-abstract approach allows me to integrate the abstract virus into realistic scenarios. After exploring the forest as a metaphor, I moved to the sea. My first attempt was visually strong but too optimistic;…
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another one of those
I am presenting a new painting today, though I originally hadn’t planned to write about it. A recent conversation with a customer and fellow painter named Robert made me pause; he argued that explaining one’s own art destroys the mystery for the viewer. While I understand his view, I don’t think discussing my work ruins…
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trying the big bang
When I started abstract painting, an unusual idea stuck in my head: visually capturing the Big Bang. I envision a sudden burst where energy, light, and colors are born, competing and tuning into one another. This constant interaction of opposing forces—a fundamental yin and yang—shapes the entire creation process. Since nature is always changing, the…
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remembering a landscape
Lately, I have been painting landscapes based on ideas and memories rather than scenes from nature. The composition is simple, but that is exactly what I found challenging. I have modified this theme repeatedly over the last 30 years. This time, I explore the aspect of memory through the concept of a “negative of a…