Lotus by Adam Tan

Duration: 5 min.

I love the lotus because while it is growing from mud, it is unstained.
予獨愛蓮之出淤泥而不染。
– Zhou Dunyi 周敦頤
(1017-1073)

The lotus flower (蓮, lián) is commonly seen in many Asian cultures. It is traditionally seen as a symbol of perfection, beauty and purity. Lotus root (藕, ǒu) is also a popular vegetable used in many Asian cuisines. My inspiration for Lotus comes mainly from the nature of the lotus flower. It is able to grow beautifully despite its muddy and undesirable origins. The flower is able to float over the surface of water and often lives for over a thousand years.

In this work, I wanted to juxtapose the qualities of the lotus flower with identifiable human experiences. Lotus begins with a ‘floating’ theme of tranquility (a passing reference to Debussy’s Arabesque No. 1) that is repeated and varied throughout the work. It is placed alongside a second theme that is more reflective and unstable. The structure of Lotus alternates between these themes, with the tranquility representing our moments of peace, and the instability representing our moments of hardship. The themes develop with increasing energy until Lotus concludes on a final moment of peace.

Adam Tan