0305 2003

Li Huasheng made this grid painting, 0305, with ink, and what strikes me is the meditative process he must have gone through. It’s all about the subtle variations, a testament to the beauty of imperfection. Look closely, and you’ll see how the ink is applied in thin, deliberate lines, creating a woven texture. The surface isn't uniform; it breathes. There’s a visible record of the hand, the slight tremors, the pauses. It’s like a visual diary of a repetitive action, a mantra on canvas. Notice that one slightly darker intersection, like a tiny focal point that anchors the whole piece. This reminds me a little of Agnes Martin, in the way it balances control and chance. Both artists share an interest in the grid, and the use of repetition as a means of exploring consciousness. Ultimately, though, it’s a very different process that seeks not to define, but to explore.