Wu Wei is a Taoist
concept, usually translated as action through non-action. The actual
meaning is closer to avoid not interfering in the natural course and
flow of events, letting the cosmos decide by mastering the skill of
listening to the universe. Only in this way is it possible to follow
and become one with nature, and indeed all things become simple, if the
flow of nature is followed.
The best translation
is minimal action or action only within the Tao. The Taoist sage, Lau
Tzu expressed in the Tao Te Ching that somebody who was on the path of
the Tao, only acted when the time was exactly right, and did it in a way
that was totally minimal, yet totally decisive because the actions
followed the course of the Tao. Nobody would have even realized that he
acted, because his action was in accord with nature.
There is a story Chung Tzu used to illustrate. He described a butcher, who was so
practiced in the art, and knew the anatomy of his stock so well, that
whenever he made a cut, the meat immediately cleaved all the way through
with one stroke. The butcher never needed to sharpen his cleaver,
because it always cleaved through with the first stroke, and never
encountered anything to dull it. This is Wu Wei in a nutshell; action
that is minimal and seemingly requires the least effort, but yet at the
same time is totally effective and encounters no resistance
Rikrit has a
way of working that has similarities with Gabriel Orozco’s clothes
drying lint sculpture. Rirkrit's work just seems to happen
naturally and with effortless effort. We recently met
up for a lunch interview to discuss his work and ways of combining our
magazine efforts at helping raise awareness and money for orphans in
Thailand.
Rirkrit's
"O Ver Magazine" is based out of Bangkok. A large formatted mostly
photographic magazine with no text and mostly images, with an implanted
DVD with interviews and music.
As all this
was going on, Mary Barone, , art consultant, curator, photographer for artnet.com
"Out with Mary" and heyoka magazine accompanied me and
joined us for lunch and was talking to Dodi while also graciously
taking some pictures for this article, but
later found out her flash was not working. This is also the way of the Tao. Happy
accidents and going with the flow of it.
