Emeritus Curator of Asian Art at the Art Gallery of New South Wales Jackie Menzies (L) makes a video call with artist Peng Yong in Sydney, Australia, on March 18, 2021. A new solo exhibition of works by Chinese artist Peng Yong went on display at the Vermillion Gallery in Sydney on Thursday, showcasing the artist's dedicated exploration of the Buddhist principle -- each moment is the universe. (Xinhua/Zhang Yue)
SYDNEY, March 19 (Xinhua) -- A new solo exhibition of works by Chinese artist Peng Yong went on display at the Vermillion Gallery in Sydney on Thursday, showcasing the artist's dedicated exploration of the Buddhist principle -- each moment is the universe.
Featuring works created during the pandemic, the show is titled "From Each Moment" and aims to ease the minds of viewers through the paintings' uniformity and tranquil creation.
"I combined some concepts and thoughts of Buddhism in these works in a hope that they would help people to calm down and be away from negative mood," Peng explained to Xinhua via video link from his workshop in Tianjin, northern port city of China.
As a practising Buddhist, Peng has employed his reflections on zen concepts, and belief in the power of simple and mindful repetition, to create a series of unique works as beautiful as they are thought-provoking.
Peng's well-received first solo show in Australia dated back in 2016, featured more exterior, urban subjects, in contrast to the new show which he said was more a reflection of his inner thoughts and feelings.
Helping launch the event was Emeritus Curator of Asian Art at the Art Gallery of New South Wales Jackie Menzies, who told Xinhua that while many think of abstract art as more gestural and chaotic, Peng's works create a calmer sense of inner being.
"His view of the world is very much that Buddhist view that the whole universe is contained in one moment. It's quite extraordinary thinking within Buddhism, and he's picking up on some of those ideas, and trying to translate those into his art form," Menzies said.
"In this case he's bringing an interest in oil paintings, he's bringing an interest in abstract expressionism, and he's bringing an interest in Buddhism. So all these things sort of come together to make up what is the unique visual statement."
Peng said the pandemic had brought a level of chaos and uncertainty to all countries in the world, and he hoped displaying his works in Australia was a way of helping others around the world to deal with the pressure.
"The pandemic is a common challenge. We are under the same circumstances," Peng said. "I think these tranquil art works could help people dispel negative mood and that's what I hope to bring to the audiences in Sydney." Enditem
