Alchemy of Mineral Pigments: A Whispered Ode to Nature’s Eternity

In his essay, The Origin of the Work of Art, German philosopher Martin Heidegger argued that poetry is the essence of all artistic expression. Taiwanese painter Liu Linglie embraces this perspective, conveying her poetry not only in words but also through skillful brushstrokes of mineral pigments. The result is a collection of captivating paintings that portray the serene, poetic, and harmonious beauty of the Earth, crafted with mineral pigments from the Earth.

With deft artistic skill, Liu intertwines her emotions with nature, allowing them to flow freely. It’s through painting that she expresses her yearning for the freedom of birds, shares her sorrow for the withered flowers, conveys her admiration for autumn’s beautiful colours, or immerses herself in the tranquillity of an autumn moon reflected on the lake.

Poetic beauty

Born into a family of esteemed artists in Taiwan, Liu possessed an impressive artistic talent from an early age. Even as a university student three decades ago, her meticulous replicas of both Eastern and Western masterpieces could easily be mistaken for the originals.

Seeking to expand her artistic horizons, Liu decided to pursue a Master of Arts degree at New York University. Immersed in the vibrant cultural melting pot of New York City, where she was exposed to a rich tapestry of artistic expressions and diverse cultures, Liu went through profound self-reflection. This eventually led her to capture the poetic beauty of Eastern philosophy through her unique paintings in natural mineral pigments.

“Ancient Chinese art has always been imbued with a carefree spirit; we’ve learned this from the teachings of Lao Zi and Zhuang Zi. These enlightened philosophers have inspired both Easterners and Westerners by highlighting the importance of harmonious unity with nature,” Liu says.

Unlike Western paintings, which tend to emphasize precise proportions, traditional Eastern paintings focus on evoking poetic feelings. This is something that Liu witnessed in her own family of artists. “I remember when I was a child, my father and his friends would recite and compose poetry at home,” she says.

Back then, Liu didn’t fully understand the profound depths of those verses, but she could still sense their allure. The tranquil moons and gentle autumn whispers, the majestic mountains and meandering streams, the fragrant essence of forests and melodious bird songs depicted in those poems held timeless beauty. These images permeated her soul, eventually flowing through the brush onto the painted canvas.

Liu’s paintings exhibit a captivating interplay of vivid mineral pigments against black, white, or grey settings. Through a harmonious balance of yin and yang, namely through the interplay of elements such as light and dark, tension and softness, her compositions transcend structural considerations to evoke a transcendent atmosphere.

This emphasis on the relationship between the tangible and the intangible is part of the mysterious beauty unique to the East. Liu says that viewers thus become active participants in the painting, completing the story or image within their minds.

Like her father, Liu also loves to compose poems for her paintings, which leads to an even deeper emotional and intellectual exchange with her audience. One of these poems is titled Moonlit Rivers at Night, which she wrote during the pandemic:

Moonlit rivers at night,
Have no voice with which to question the east winds;
The flowing waters,
Rise and fall within moments;
Surrounded by the ethereal glow of the moon,
Lies a lonely heart.
I turn to the grandness of the sea,
Its vastness embraces every moment of impermanence.
Silence echoes in the cosmos,
Flowing freely towards the rivers and seas.

The poem, a poignant contemplation of the passing seasons and the ever-changing nature of time, resonates with a mineral pigment painting Liu created in 2014 titled The Way We Came. Within the artwork, a sense of loneliness emanates from the thick clouds and ethereal path, inviting reflection upon the choices people make along life’s journey.

The serene yet dramatic composition skillfully captures varying intensities of atmosphere and emotions, encompassing both solitude and optimism. The painting poetically enhances our awareness of nature, capturing human nature and the passage of time, reminding us of the transience of worldly affairs.

Eternal harmony

Amid juggling teaching responsibilities and other obligations, Liu keeps her daily commitment to creating art. After entering her forties, she feels she has gained the ability to channel her concentration effectively. “Once I sit in front of my painting, I can enter a desired state.” This state, involving a deep spiritual connection, is one Liu strives for and describes as the pinnacle of creative existence.

Liu has embraced the ancient Chinese literati’s reverence and fascination for nature throughout her creative journey. She dedicates herself to constant sketching, using her sharp perception to observe and uncover beauty in the ordinary and capture it through her artistic process. Even a seemingly unassuming flower with its slender stem and eight petals becomes a subject of fascination for Liu. With her keen gaze, she discerns the distinctiveness of each petal, appreciating its varied shape and the intricate patterns along its edges.

“I have a feel of a subject or object’s life as I carefully observe and paint it—and I then get a sense of its inner spirit,” she says. “Perhaps I will curl the stem because its life is in motion—I can change it and give it more life. This process truly feels like becoming one with nature; I become one with this flower.”

Liu’s art embodies a harmonious coexistence with the natural world, inviting viewers to engage with its inner significance, glimpse the artist’s emotions, and return to a more inward appreciation of beauty.

“Ultimately, I aim to imbue my paintings with a sense of immortality and ethereality,” Liu says. “Through my art, I seek to understand the harmony and serenity of nature, capturing those fleeting moments and immortalizing them on canvas.”