Man and The Universe
This artwork by Chung Chen Sun depicts indigenous Malay figures using a concise and exaggerated freehand technique. The scene portrays the leisurely life of the indigenous tribe—gathering to chat, observing birds, and engaging in bird fights around a birdcage. Each character is rendered with a charmingly clumsy and slightly awkward demeanor, round and bumbling, exuding a sense of adorable naivety. Their humorous and unpolished appearance indeed gives off an irresistibly “cute” vibe.
Zeng Guofan, a fervent advocate of the philosophy of “praising simplicity,” extolled the virtue of clumsiness, once stating, “The greatest simplicity can triumph over the greatest cleverness.” Clumsiness embodies authentic purity; it reflects a childlike innocence and sincerity. The beauty of simplicity lies in its honest and genuine nature—simple and unpretentious, yet deeply moving.
From this piece, what deeper insights can we gain?