This second painting in my Legato series explores the profound connection between the terrestrial and the celestial, a theme inspired by the very essence of music. What natural elements stand as vertical lines, bridging the earth and sky? Trees. In this piece, trees transform into living musical instruments, their forms echoing the long, sustained bows of string instruments. The music, born from a cello, metaphorically ascends, traveling from the earthly realm toward the heavens. This painting then asks: What, truly, do you believe connects heaven and earth?
The Legato series as a whole is a deep dive into using color to describe music. Legato itself, in string instruments, signifies a long, continuous bowing that produces the richest, most sustained sound possible. My inspiration comes partly from the words of cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who, facing the challenge of just four strings on his cello, declared, “I must make my voice count.” In my own artistic practice, I embrace a similar constraint: working with only the three primary colors plus black and white—a total of five colors. Like Yo-Yo Ma, I have to make my colors count. Through this deliberate limitation, I aim to create a visual resonance that encourages viewers to slow down and truly see with their eyes, their mind, and their heart. I want the colors to evoke a contemplative experience, mirroring the lingering beauty and depth of a perfectly executed legato passage.
Date Created: 2025
Physical Dimensions: 60″X48″ (152cm X 122cm)
Type: Painting
Medium: Oil and Acrylic on canvas
Rights: ©Jeanyu Chen
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