There are scriptures on the sea 4

Artwork Interpretation

This untitled painting constructs a unique world with strong visual impact. In the picture, the large area of bright yellow background is like a blazing earth, an energy field, holding up the central "flowing body" that is mainly black - gray, mixed with red and purple. Its twisted and entangled form seems like a mysterious force surging from the depths of the earth, or like the spiritual folds precipitated by years.

In terms of composition, the "flowing body" occupies the core, breaking the balance of the picture but forming a gravity center. The viewer's gaze is naturally drawn to it. The color block confrontation between yellow and black - gray creates a tense and charming visual tension. The blue - orange gradient of the background skyline is a calm distance, giving the restless picture a breathing exit.

Color is an emotional code: Bright yellow is vitality and the unknown, like a never - tiring sun; black - gray is depth and heaviness, hiding the stories of time; red and purple are like hidden sparks, flickering in the black - gray folds. The collision of the three ignites the passion and depth of life. The stacking and blending of brushstrokes give the "flowing body" a touchable texture, as if its temperature and pulse can be felt.

The painting style wanders between expressionism and abstract expressionism, abandoning the constraints of figuration and directly expressing emotions with colors and forms. The distortion of the "flowing body" is not chaos, but the externalization of the inner spirit. Every fold is telling the struggle and growth of life.

Emotions are hidden in the color folds: The brilliance of bright yellow is a tribute to life, the heaviness of black - gray is the precipitation of years, and the flickering of red - purple is the spark of hope. The whole conveys optimism — even in the thick chaos, life can be as dazzling as bright yellow, finding gaps for growth in the twisted folds.

It brings to mind Pollock's abstract expressionism, but this painting has more of the earth's heaviness; it also has the passion of Van Gogh's colors, but is more restrained and deep. It uses specific color collisions and form distortions to transform abstract spirits into perceptible visual symbols, telling viewers: The passion and depth of life coexist. In the seemingly chaotic "flow", there is an eternal power of upward growth. This power is the key for art to decode life.

Why do the gray-black forms look like smoke yet seem to float above the sea?

These curling shapes are not ordinary clouds or vapor, but ashes from burned scripture, lifted by the wind and currents, appearing both like clouds and waves. They blur the boundary between sky and sea, allowing the viewer to sense a reflection between spirit and nature.

What is unique about the treatment of the golden sea surface?

The golden hue gives the sea a surreal quality—no longer just a natural landscape, but a spiritual backdrop. It resembles water illuminated by fire, suggesting that the burning of scripture leaves traces not only in the air but also casts its radiance across the vast ocean.

Why does the overall composition feel both heavy and fluid?

The weight comes from the dense blocks of ash-like tones, while the flow arises from the rotating and extending brushstrokes. Their juxtaposition mirrors the paradox of memory and disappearance, keeping the work visually powerful and emotionally resonant.

What is its significance within the context of contemporary abstract ocean painting?

The artwork breaks away from the romantic narrative of traditional seascapes, covering the ocean surface with the presence of scripture’s ashes. This merging of religious metaphor and natural imagery makes it a key example in contemporary abstract ocean painting, particularly valuable for exploring how spirituality and environmental representation mirror each other.

Why is it suitable for interdisciplinary exhibitions or cultural memory-themed presentations?

Its visual language is not limited to religion but speaks to disappearance, drifting, and return. The ashes of scripture falling into the sea evoke both the sedimentation of cultural memory and the dispersion of historical narratives. Within interdisciplinary exhibitions, it becomes a symbolic image where memory, text, and nature converge.

What should I pay attention to when buying an artwork or its derivatives?

A: Click here to view ARTPHILOSO's Guide for Collectors.

More paintings from this series：

There are scriptures on the sea 1

There are scriptures on the sea 2

There are scriptures on the sea 3

There are scriptures on the sea 5