Excerpt from “Alchemy” in The Flower of Plenary, Lofty Culture & Art, 2019.
by Elaine Suyu Liu
In Tzeng Yong-ning’s gold-foiled The Flower of Plenary series, a large circle dominates the composition, and is in turn filled with countless smaller circles, of various patterns, colors, sizes. Packed together tightly, there is a sense of unity and harmony, due to the fact that all the individuals are grouped together in a comprehensive whole. Yet, each circle is lively and energetic, seemingly expanding outwards, floating upwards, or squeezing each other. Encompassed in a field of gold, the large circle embodies a solemn planet, sitting elegantly in the serenity of space.
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