Orchids. Perpetuity.
Impermanence and Attachment.
2024, Ink on paper
63.5cm x 51cm
Through this work, the inextricably antithetical concept of Perpetuity and Impermanence is attempted to explore and present.
Main feature of this drawing, orchid flower, as one of the plants that appear the most in my grandma’s garden, is also the one needed the most attentiveness and effort in caring. Along with the featured botanical elements (flowers, persimmons, butterflies), some of the traditionally Vietnamese elements are also added. This piece then simply captured and collected what I have treasured the most during the trip I came back home last month: grandma’s garden with a variety of plants and insects (grandparent’s love and fondness), flickering light from a cluster of candles during New Year Eve, fire from the traditional burning ritual, etc.
5 stages of orchid flowers (from unbloomed to withering) symbolise the evanescent, fragile existence of nature, which then also can be interpreted into living creatures and human beings. This drawing then questions viewers about what they value or care about: when everything is sabotaged and everyone is gone, what’s left behind? Which values deserve to be continued existing and carried on? Is there anything that deserves to be forever existed?
