Pond, Relief Etching, 23" X 31"

Chen explores the principle of wu wei, which translated literally means “without effort or direct engagement.” In original Taoist texts wu wei was associated with the properties of water, frequently viewed as formless or malleable. It has, however, the capacity to erode stone, and the sound of its dripping could drive a person to distraction. Water might be a mightier tool than conventional weaponry as suggested in Pond, another of Chen’s works of masterful juxtaposition of diverse images.

Charlotta Kotik

Curator Emerita, Contemporary Art,
Brooklyn Museum