Leong Lampo (Liang Lanbo) (b.1961) Virtue calligraphy, ink on paper executed in 2013 64 x 129 cm. (25 1/4 x 50 3/4 in.) FURTHER DESCRIPTION Virtue is a demonstration of Leong Lampo’s achievements in calligraphy. “Virtue” is derived from the text of Tao Te Ching written by Laozi: “High virtue takes no contrived action and acts without agenda; low virtue takes contrived action and acts with agenda.” He turns Laozi’s Chinese philosophies into a painting-like abstract construction, in a pure rhythm that is almost linear, enhancing the meaningful expression of the text, and assigning it with even greater artistic value. His ingenuity is even applied on the base paper, enhancing the quaint colours with special textures by means of spilling, render and rubbing, so as to produce rich yet subtle visual changes in the interaction between the potassium alum, the paper and the ink.