Ada Lu

Not Explained

Not Explained is a series of acrylic paintings about grass. Grass is something we see everywhere in daily life, but rarely look into. I started from a simple question: can an artwork exist on its own, without explaining itself? Inspired by existentialism, especially Sartre’s idea that “existence precedes essence,” I chose grass as my subject because it does not need to carry any symbol or story.

The paintings are built from repeated, layered brushstrokes. Each stroke is closely connected to the one before it, but also different, just like growing blades of grass. I move between figuration and abstraction and take away the natural colour of grass. When viewers look at the work, they may feel unsure: are they seeing the existence of grass itself, or something more? Painting this way brings me a sense of calm, and I hope that viewers can slow down and think when they stand in front of these works.