Wind, Flag and Heart
A flag was flapping in the wind, and two men argued about whether it was the wind moving or the flag itself. The Zen master HuiNeng, passing by, remarked, “It’s your heart (minds) that are moving.” This is a famous Zen Buddhism Koan (story).
Once, on a quiet day, when I was standing by a lake, I was curious about why I could only see the reflection from the lake’s surface, even though the water was clear. Suddenly, I realized that I was able to see what was under the water by viewing from a different angle or diving into the water. My mind decided what I could see. This moment enlightened me, allowing me to more fully understand the wind, flag and heart story.
In these works, I used a one-way mirror as material to represent the lake. The mirror reflects the world. Once the perspective and lighting change, you will see what is behind the mirror. Our visual ability has limits, as do our minds. The green gold wire represents our bondage to our minds.
There is no difference between the flag moving and the wind moving. Your mind moves your understanding, judgement, feelings, and visual perceptions.
A flag was flapping in the wind, and two men argued about whether it was the wind moving or the flag itself. The Zen master HuiNeng, passing by, remarked, “It’s your heart (minds) that are moving.” This is a famous Zen Buddhism Koan (story).
Once, on a quiet day, when I was standing by a lake, I was curious about why I could only see the reflection from the lake’s surface, even though the water was clear. Suddenly, I realized that I was able to see what was under the water by viewing from a different angle or diving into the water. My mind decided what I could see. This moment enlightened me, allowing me to more fully understand the wind, flag and heart story.
In these works, I used a one-way mirror as material to represent the lake. The mirror reflects the world. Once the perspective and lighting change, you will see what is behind the mirror. Our visual ability has limits, as do our minds. The green gold wire represents our bondage to our minds.
There is no difference between the flag moving and the wind moving. Your mind moves your understanding, judgement, feelings, and visual perceptions.
2021
18K green gold, plique-à-jour enamel, fine silver, sterling silver, stainless steel, one-way mirror, plexi, thread, fabricated.
18K green gold, plique-à-jour enamel, fine silver, sterling silver, stainless steel, one-way mirror, plexi, thread, fabricated.