The Rice Meals for a Stone 1983

This drawing, by Wolfgang Laib, uses graphite pencil and what looks like pigment on paper. These are traditional art materials, yet they are used in a very unconventional way. Notice how Laib deploys the graphite to create delicate triangular forms – each one representing a grain of rice, perhaps? The pigment is used sparingly, almost like a symbolic garnish. The work's material directly influences its appearance. The rice grains, rendered as triangles, are precise but also vulnerable. The touches of pigment are vivid against the stark white paper, giving the impression of something precious and carefully measured. The paper support itself seems to breathe, inviting contemplation. Laib has been deeply influenced by philosophies and practices rooted in non-Western traditions. What results is a profound meditation on the rituals of sustenance, transforming a simple act into a powerful metaphor. By elevating these humble materials and processes, Laib challenges our conventional ideas of art and labor.