Grace and resilience
Loss - acceptance and preservation
In gardens, algae, moss and lichen recover man's works for nature, taking off hard edges and mottling colour. This is often 'encouraged' by the use of porous materials such as bricks for paving or pebbles with earth between them. Rain and humidity further add grey streaks and black flowerings to the plastered walls typical of Jiangnan – the charm is such that it is often unclear when the matter has gone too far and one should re-paint, restarting the process anew.
In the winter flowers give way to dead vines, bringing to mind the annual cycle of death and renewal.
Aside from awareness of 'the way of all things' these features also gave to literati life a touch of poetic melancholy, savoured most intensely on cold, wet winter days. This was not felt as something to be avoided.
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| Suzhou, 2004 |
