Hydrangea (綉球花)

This ink painting of hydrangeas features elegant and natural brushwork, with vibrant ink tones that evoke a sense of poetry and nostalgia. The vines spiral gracefully, interwoven with flowers and leaves. The branches and leaves are rendered in bold strokes of dark ink, creating a layered and three-dimensional effect, while the flowers are delicately outlined in light ink, with ample blank space that balances emptiness and fullness, motion and stillness. The veins of the leaves are distinct, and the flowers, though abundant, appear orderly, reflecting the artist’s keen observation of nature and exceptional ability to distill its essence. The inscription reads, "Memories of Caotang Temple." Caotang Temple, located at the foot of the Qinling Mountains in the Guanzhong region, is a Tang Dynasty temple and a place of personal tranquility in the artist’s memory. This painting skillfully merges the beauty of natural forms with the artist’s inner reflections, exuding a near-Zen-like sense of serenity. Emotion pervades the imagery, and poetry resides within the ink. It is not only a depiction of nature but also a heartfelt expression of personal sentiment.