Mountain Light Blown Into Wrinkles

Starting in 1977, Liu Kuo-sung spent nearly a decade exploring and perfecting his technique of “Water-rubbing.” This dedication illustrates Liu’s “revolution against the brush,” and the notion that great painting can be created with or without the brush. Mountain Light blown into Wrinkles is a representative work from this inspiring period of experimentation and creativity.

With the initial composition created by “Water-rubbing,” the image is further treated with ink and wash, adding the artist’s personal touch to the natural effects of ink in water. In the mid-ground, strands of running ink converge upwards, resembling the formation of a mountain. Toward the foreground, the flow of ink slows into a sprawl, like highland water reaching the recess of a valley. The dense black ink of the background sets a strong chiaroscuro effect against the foreground and stabilizes the composition. Despite the painting’s small size, the stunning portrayal of light and the momentum of the lines create a very moving picture.