Find Repose in a Muddy World

The calligraphy in this one translates, "Who is able to find repose in a muddy world, quiet as it clears? Who can remain calm for a long time, coming to life with action?" My illustration is of a man standing in mud, his hands chained together. There is a bit of action/confusion going on around him.

A Good Man is Like Water.

This quote can be translated, `A good man is like water. Water benefits all without competing.' This illustration includes a man with a hose, a dog biting the hose, and a cactus. My first thought upon reading this section of the Dao De Jing for the first time in college was about title waves and hurricanes. Those are examples of water that can cause damage or harm. My analytical western mind has been trained to find flaws and exceptions. The point of the passage, that being a good person should be done without ego and ostentation, is always something I ponder. It is hard to do good and not expect something in return. If I had that level of selflessness, I wouldn't be divorced. I would have good relations with everyone.

Weapons Are Unkind Tools

`Weapons are unkind tools, not the tools of decent men. When the must be used, use them with restraint'. This passage from section 31 of the Dao De Jing is pretty straight forward. I think of bombs falling from the sky on targeted populations. If that's not terrorism, I don't know what is.

Victory is Like a Funeral

The Dao De Jing has many passages which you could call anti-war. It admonishes leaders who rely on brute force and, like in this passage, it reminds us of the simple truth that war and killing brings suffering. This passage says, "The killing of many should be mourned with sorrow. A victory should be celebrated like a funeral." The Iraq war, and Bush' pre-mature crowing about victory are stark reminders of how not to behave according to the Dao De Jing.

The painting has some figures, possibly sodiers with expressions of grief in the foreground and a car on fire in the background. It didn't seem appropriate to do something witty or overly clever for this passage.

Useful Emptiness

`When a vessel is formed, it's use is in the empty space.' In my style of painting, the empty space on the paper is as important as the space filled in with line and color. I wonder what's more valuable a diamond or the space around the diamond? The illustration for this quote features many vessels; the flower pot with lotus plans, the gas pipes, the building throught the window, the glass, the wine bottle the human body, etc. Think of what all these things are filled with.