fine arts @ zettl.fr

Music as the Ultimate Currency of Cultural Exchange Lang Lang’s recent performance in Vienna is the perfect catalyst for a few thoughts and old music anecdotes I want to share today. Viewing music as the primary currency of cultural exchange is an idea that struck me decades ago. When we trade goods internationally, we rely on banknotes and coins. In the cultural realm, music has always been…

From Studio Light to Cosmic Ur-Light Light as State of Being – this title stands for an article about the use of light in painting and, in particular, for my own special integration of cosmic light or frozen light into my images. Actually, I had planned a different article for today: one in which I wanted to announce a break from writing about my art. That one will appear later. Why a break?…

Yunnan Spring Greetings (X) Afterthoughts on the Yunnan Journey – Preliminary Remarks I actually intended to write two or three more articles about my recent trip to China. I started, then stopped again. (Other articles on this can be accessed via this link: TAG: Yunnan). Essentially, I hold back because I am aware that China is usually perceived very distortedly in the West, and I do not want…

When the World Shatters is an article, featuring recent works—a mix of finished paintings, unfinished pieces, and studies— which explores my observations on the current global situation. Some of these works were intended for my Series on War but fit perfectly within this context. When the World Shatters sounds like a dramatic title. Most likely, we all experience the current events on the world…

Yunnan Spring Greetings [IX] Buddha’s light comes later. First, there is a difficult path ahead. I’ll skip most of the struggle for now. I originally planned to go into detail, but I’d rather let the photos do the talking. Today is all about the visuals, and for good reason. Just a few pics from the road before. Even the journey there makes your heart beat faster. For many kilometers, the road…

Yunnan Spring Greetings (VIII): ​As previous posts suggest, this journey has been heavily influenced by the Dao. When you immerse yourself in this mindset, you enter a state of “flow” where unexpected events unfold naturally. A more prosaic mind might simply call them coincidences. Regardless of the label, today I want to share four of these chance encounters. ​A Modern Wedding Ritual While…

Yunnan Spring Greetings (VII) Evening Mood and Morning Light: A Mountain near Pu’er Once again, we hit the mark with our hotel choice in Pu’er (普洱). It is spacious, the rooms are stylish and blend perfectly with the environment, and—best of all—there are two large pools. I had them almost to myself, sharing the heated one with just a few kids. ​On our very first evening, we drove up a nearby…

Yunnan Spring Greetings (VI): From Fengqing, we took a taxi to Lushi (鲁史), another vital stop on the Ancient Tea Horse Road. Although only 80 km away, the drive took over four hours. We wound our way down from 2,000 meters altitude through sometimes dangerous switchbacks, only to climb back up again multiple times. The reward for this white-knuckle drive was breathtaking scenery and the…

Yunnan Spring greetings (V) Shi Dong Si: A Glimpse into the Shadow and Light of the Dao I recently visited Shi Dong Si (石洞寺Stone Cave Temple), a place that feels almost suspended in time. It’s not just the architecture—the curved eaves and the weathered stone bridge—but the atmosphere. There is a distinct sense of “Pure Dao” here, a quiet strong power that comes from the balance of opposites.…

Yunnan Spring Greetings (IV) “Every day an adventure, every day a joy.” It might sound a bit cliché, but here, one experience really does chase the next. We actually cancelled our planned trip to Mangshi (芒市) because Heshun and its surroundings simply have too much to offer. A couple we are friends with drove all the way from Beijing, accompanied by another couple, just to see us. After a proper…