Xiao Chu: The Taming Power of the Small

Liang jiamin, 2025

Giclée print on Hahnemühle German Etching® (310gsm, 100% α-cellulose)
A4 Limited Edition of 30; Framing Size 440*350 mm ( approx. 17.32 × 13.78 inches)
A3 Limited Edition of 30; Framing Size 558*447 mm ( approx. 21.97 × 17.60 inches)

Inspired by the 9th hexagram of the I-Ching, "Xiao Chu" (The Taming Power of the Small), this work explores the profound philosophy of restraint and accumulation. The character "Chu" (畜) embodies the duality of "halting" and "storing up"—a state likened to clouds gathering in the sky, pregnant with rain but waiting for the perfect moment to break.

Dominating the void is a deep azure steed, standing resolute amidst a torrential downpour of arrows and invisible gales. In Chinese cultural symbolism, the horse is an emblem of the "Junzi" (Noble Scholar/Gentleman). Liang Jiamin interprets the "Xiao Chu" hexagram as the ideal balance of character: possessing an inner fortitude as unyielding as the "Heavens" (Tian), while maintaining an outer grace as adaptive as the "Wind" (Feng).

The tactile richness of the mineral pigments enhances the contrast between the stillness of the horse and the kinetic violence of the surrounding arrows. This piece serves as a powerful testament to patience and poise—the art of remaining unmoved in the face of adversity while quietly nurturing the strength required for the journey ahead.