In Lotus Pond Series: Autumn Lilies, Chua Ek Kay brings his signature fusion of traditional Chinese ink aesthetics and contemporary abstraction to life. Spanning an expansive horizontal format, the work evokes the surface of a pond in autumn, where scattered petals, stems, and reflections drift across still waters.

Executed in bold, spontaneous brushstrokes interspersed with delicate splatters, the composition embodies both movement and quietude. The rhythmic balance between heavy, dark ink forms and fleeting, calligraphic marks suggests the transience of nature, the cycle of bloom and decay that defines the lotus pond.

Chua’s approach transcends representational painting. Rather than depicting lilies literally, he distils their essence into abstract gestures, allowing viewers to sense the atmosphere of the scene rather than see it in detail. The white expanse of rice paper becomes a metaphor for space, silence, and timelessness, while the expressive brushwork reflects Chua’s deep grounding in Chinese calligraphy and his innovative spirit in expanding the boundaries of ink art.

Through Autumn Lilies, Chua Ek Kay meditates on impermanence, beauty, and renewal, inviting the viewer to linger, reflect, and find harmony in the interplay between tradition and modernity.