​IInk embodies the properties of natural diffusion and fusion, granting it the aesthetics of freedom, expressiveness, and simplicity. The unpredictable beauty of ink, as it freely merges with water and fuses into the paper, echoes the appreciation for the uncertainty of nature and the impermanence of the present moment in Chan philosophy. This connection aligns with impermanence in Buddhism, wuwei in Daoism, and the wabi-sabi aesthetics of Japanese Zen Buddhism. Beyond its materiality, ink serves as a cultural and philosophical symbol that encapsulates the philosophy of East Asia.
Therefore, we propose the idea of "Ink Beyond Ink," liberating ink from being a mere medium for plastic art to embracing cross-media and interdisciplinary expression. Ink beyond ink represents an aesthetic ideology for living in the present and appreciating nature as it is. When ink is freed from its physical medium, its expressiveness transcends all realms of artistic disciplines and practices.
Artist Xu Yuke's interactive multimedia installation, "One Bright Pearl," incorporates the software TouchDesign to visualize sound in real-time. The installation was first featured in the (((Time))) performance at an underground EDM club in Chengdu. Inspired by the story of "One Bright Pearl" in Shōbōgenzō, Yuke created an ink dot representing the pearl in the installation. This ink dot responds to sound from improvisational music performances and environmental sounds, diffusing according to the volumes and frequencies of the sound. As the singularity of the ink spreads and fills the space of emptiness, a new world is formed in the very present moment of the performance. The visualization of the unexpected and spontaneous present moment in "One Bright Pearl" brings the aesthetics of ink beyond ink to life. Ink is not just ink; it symbolizes a way of portraying our relationship with nature.