A State of Flow 流光之中

“The tender joy of embracing imperfection and vulnerability in unguarded, relaxed moments.“
归于安然。“

oil on canvas
46×46 cm

Rei roused drowsily from his nap, his eyes blinking open. For a moment, he forgot where he was – in his dreams, he had been wandering in a mysterious garden, full of leaves and flowers.

Then he remembered, with the cool blue-green silk sheets pooled around him, that it was yet another typical weekend afternoon. Out of the corner of his half-closed eyes, he could see Shelly, the ladybug, perched on the edge of the carpet, glaring at him.

He blinked guiltily – he had promised to play with her, but he had fallen asleep and forgot all about it.

But where was Susie, his owner? She was usually bustling around, either working on her projects, cleaning the house, or running errands on her to-do list that seemed to be never-ending. This week, he remembered, she had an unusually long to-do list.

Then he saw her – instead of her usual tasks, she was sprawled on the corner of the room, her hair in a messy bun, and her hands full of paint. A large canvas was laid out in front of her, and the brush in her hand left large, slow brushstrokes on the fresh white surface. A usually meticulous painter, she seemed to be playing – letting her imagination take flight as she occasionally splashed paint on the canvas.

But what caught his attention was the uncharacteristically serene and peaceful smile on her face. The room was quiet, the air was still, but her eyes glowed – with pleasure, tenderness, and just a hint of vulnerability.

He meowed, trying to catch her attention. But she did not hear him. It was as if she was lost in her own world, pouring the weariness, noise and dust of the city into every messy brushstroke. And with every stroke, she seemed to grow more inspired, more refreshed, more alive.

He watched, his eyes wide, as if mesmerized by her state of flow. Then he smiled – at the tenderness of imperfection and vulnerability, and embracing it fully in the most rare, unguarded and relaxed moments.