We understand that the essence of “Living Zen” lies in integrating the wisdom of Buddhism into the ordinary rhythms of daily life—every movement, whether walking, standing, sitting, or resting. While Lien Chien-Hsing's floral still lifes capture moments of serenity and quiet contemplation, he refuses to remain confined within the conventions of the genre. Instead, he infuses his works with conceptual ingenuity.
Beyond the carefully arranged flowers, tea utensils, and still-life objects, the pictorial space is interwoven with mathematical formulas, numerical codes, and symbolic notations. At first glance, these elements appear to function merely as visual embellishments. Yet beneath this network of signs lies a deeper reflection on composition, proportion, structure, and form, as well as philosophical and aesthetic inquiries into mechanics, light, time, and spatial relationships. Together, they create subtle metaphors that invite viewers to decipher the hidden logic embedded within the painting.
Lien believes that while many artists paint still lifes, a faithful depiction of objects alone merely demonstrates technical proficiency and risks losing the significance of creativity and innovation. His still-life paintings therefore seek to transcend representation, embodying a distinctive contemporary spirit and a renewed vision that sets them apart from conventional approaches.