Vimalakirti and the Doctrine of Nonduality 1308

Wang Zhenpeng created this ink on paper scroll called Vimalakirti and the Doctrine of Nonduality during the Yuan dynasty, sometime between 1265 and 1340. The composition is horizontally organized, featuring a scene with figures arranged around a central platform. Wang's delicate brushwork, seen in the rendering of garments and facial features, lends the scene an ethereal quality. He destabilizes established meanings through the arrangement of space, as the figures seem to exist in a realm that transcends conventional perspective. The ink-wash technique, with its subtle gradations of tone, contributes to the overall sense of harmony and balance. The artist's rendering challenges fixed meanings, encouraging a deeper engagement with the artwork. This elegant construction allows for an expanded understanding of pictorial space, transforming the surface into a site of contemplation.