Dao De Jing

The first chapter of Dao De Jing.

Here is the first mentioning of the word Dao. Almost making an apology that the definition of Dao, is beyond the spoken words, perhaps it was before the written text became more authentic than the spoken words; the Dao when spoken is no longer the common Dao. It would also be interpreted as Dao has to be discovered in the moment of enlightenment that when it is spoken, few would understand it and therefore it is not a normal phenomenon. Even the name itself is not a normal name. Or perhaps, at another level, the name for things or concept can vary according to time and geographical space, language and culture determine its true self only at that particular instance and it never last beyond that instance in time and space. With the name of things we can then begin to consciously get hold of the the things around us conceptually and their existence are therefore established. The 'no-name' is the beginning of all things, as we move from non-existence to existence. Without desire we could see its wonder, with desire we can observe its secrets.

Chinese Ink on Rice Paper, 2019
Approx A4-A3
Chinese Ink on Paper
US$5,000/-