The work employs a molten copper technique, allowing the metal to flow freely through space and take form spontaneously, producing richly varied textures. Dense clusters of rice ears emerge in multiple postures—some heavy and bowed with ripeness, others swaying gently as if in the wind—each gleaming with a weighty, golden copper luster.

Drawing upon the opening line of Laozi’s Tao Te Ching, “The Way that can be spoken of is not the eternal Way,” the work reflects on the fundamental responsibilities of livelihood, calling attention to the necessity of cultivation and labor. Through this gesture, the artist expresses a profound compassion for humanity and a people-centered philosophy grounded in the realities of life.

The work is currently housed in the China National Academy of Arts.

As natural landscapes are replaced by reinforced concrete, Zhu Junmin brings distant traditions and ancient civilizations into the present, constructing a distinctive, multilayered context through which to observe our fragmented and disorienting world.

Situated within constantly shifting urban sites—amid cycles of destruction and reconstruction—the works propose alternative reflections on human conditions of existence and the ongoing formation of civilization.

With the theme “All Streams Converge into the Sea,” Zhu Bingren devoted himself to creating this large-scale ink mural in a free and expressive splash-ink style. Measuring 10 meters in height and 5 meters in width, the work unfolds with sweeping momentum and layered colors, presenting a magnificent and immersive visual experience.

The mural embodies the spirit of the Boao Forum for Asia—mutual exchange among nations, learning from one another, and achieving cooperation and shared prosperity.

The work has been permanently collected by the Boao Forum for Asia and is currently displayed in the main lobby of the Forum’s central hall.