LUI SHOU KWAN (LÜ SHOUKUN, 1919-1975)

Executed in 1970, Purity is a unique example of the pinnacle of Lui Shou Kwan’s most revered period, the last decade of his life when a deep fascination with Buddhism profoundly transformed his artistic output. In his iconic Zen paintings, the artist established a powerful visual idiom to represent the lotus, a symbol for eternity, purity, and Buddhahood. With dense ink applied with bursting energy and spontaneity, the lotus leaves are heightened by the red dot that represents the moment of epiphany, while the calligraphy inscribed by the artist refers to the Platform Sutra, a Chan Buddhist scripture.