Charwei Tsai
‘Water: Cycles’
It takes only 40 seconds for the ink circle to stretch beyond the frame. Charwei Tsai paints a Zen Buddhist ensō – a circle completed in one swift brushstroke. Each ensō is said to reflect the state of mind of the calligrapher, marking a moment of mental release in which unconscious movement takes over from conscious thought. As a child, the artist practised the Heart Sutra (Prajnāpāramitā) as a way to comfort herself. A section of the mantra describes the inherent ‘emptiness’ of all living matter:
Boundlessness is the nature of all things
It neither arises nor perishes
Neither stains nor purifies
Neither increases nor decreases
The sutra suggests objects do not have a final, fixed form but are constantly changing. Eventually, ice melts into water, water turns into gas, and the gas condensates into water. Tsai’s simple act makes a ritual of this natural process.
![An installation of video works by Charwei Tsai A Gallery visitor looks at two small, brightly lit screens showing video works.](/index.php/system/files/styles/wide/private/2023-06/Picture10.jpg?itok=jllOl9B4)
A Gallery visitor watches Circle 2009, by Charwei Tsai (Taiwan b.1980), installed for 'Water' at GOMA 2019 / Digital video, Quicktime file, 4:3: colour, 40 seconds, ed. 2/5 / Commissioned by Fondation Cartier, Paris / Purchased 2010 with funds from the Bequest of Grace Davies and Nell Davies through the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation / Collection: QAGOMA / © Charwei Tsai / Photograph: QAGOMA
![Charwei Tsai Artwork Circle this artwork made of Digital video, Quicktime file, 4:3: colour, 40 seconds, ed. 2/5
Commissioned by Fondation Cartier, Paris, created in 2009-01-01](/index.php/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2010.282_001_still_3.jpg?itok=kZYZjjX0)
Circle 2009
- TSAI, Charwei - Creator