WU Shi-Wei｜Artist Statement
More than thirty years ago, during an autumn-winter stroll by West Lake, I caught a glimpse of a pond filled with withered lotuses. There was something astonishing about the way decay coexisted with splendor and chill—everywhere, it exuded vitality and an ethereal grace. It was beautiful in a way that stunned me and lingered deep within. From my very first solo exhibition in 1993 onward, the image of the withered lotus has remained a recurring theme in my work.
There is a poem that speaks of these withered lotuses:
“Between blooming and fading,
Amid prosperity and solitude, I saw
Life revealing its unique charm
In different moments, in different forms.
Withered lotuses in sunlight are not sorrowful—
The shriveled leaves persist under the sun,
Holding fast to rebirth and hope,
Like an old soul marked by time,
Waiting beneath a banyan tree
For the return of a youthful love.”
Every autumn and winter, I find myself lingering before withered lotuses. Their upright and resolute forms embody a state of mind—one that blossoms only after the splendor has passed. The lotus stems and pods stand elegantly, casting sparse shadows and radiating a quiet fragrance. They remind me of plum blossoms in winter: noble and proud, symbolic of a literati’s integrity and moral resolve.
Even after experiencing the peaks and valleys of life, I believe there is still a tenacious vitality that remains in one’s later years—a hope for what is yet to come, a steadfast heart that awaits the cycle of renewal. The upright lotus stalks call to mind Louise Bourgeois’ giant spider sculpture, its tangled, powerful legs holding aloft a resilient body—so strong, so defiant.
To me, withered lotuses are not forlorn, but solitary and serene. Beneath their seemingly desolate appearance lies a noble spirit, unbowed and optimistic. There is dignity in that resilience, a transcendence that holds within it a longing for the future—an unwavering hope for renewal and happiness.
With every brushstroke, I strive to transform my life’s experiences—its hardships, struggles, and quiet burdens—into a world of purity and stillness, a realm of ink imbued with the serenity I seek and the quiet Zen spirit I revere.
