11 Stones 1989

John Cage created "11 Stones" on paper using watercolor and graphite. The work presents a serene field of diffused washes. Eleven rings are gathered in the lower left corner. One single stone is resting in the lower right corner. A large, smudged area of dark graphite is resting on the top of the page. Cage, influenced by Zen Buddhism, embraced chance and indeterminacy, which you can clearly see in this work. The rings, rendered in muted tones, seem to float on the surface, evoking a sense of ephemerality. The varying densities of the washes create a layered effect. The composition, seemingly random, challenges traditional notions of artistic control. Cage relinquishes control and allows the materials to dictate the final outcome. The work invites us to appreciate the beauty of impermanence, finding harmony in the unpredictable. Notice the delicate balance and the subtle interplay of colors. It’s a visual reminder that beauty can emerge from chance and uncertainty.