Red Bamboo -- Illustration from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Calligraphy and Painting (Shizhuzhai shuhua pu) before 1703

Editor: Here we have Hu Zhengyan's Red Bamboo, an illustration from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Calligraphy and Painting. It feels so delicate, like a breath. What do you see in this piece, beyond the obvious? Curator: It whispers of resilience, doesn’t it? Bamboo bends, never breaks. The red, instead of green, might be a hint of autumn, a gentle melancholy. Or perhaps the artist wanted to hint at the inner strength. It’s like a haiku, full of quiet meaning. Editor: I hadn't thought of the color as symbolic. So much to consider! Curator: Exactly! That's the beauty of art - it meets you where you are. Editor: I'll definitely look at bamboo differently now. Curator: Me too!