Circle II

In the video Circle II, Charwei Tsai takes the ensō as a starting point — a circle motif from Zen painting said to embody the absolute truth of the cosmos and the cycle of all living things. Charwei paints a single brushstroke on the surface of a block of ice; as the ice melts, the ink gradually dissolves, eventually disappearing. The video becomes a metaphor for the transience of human existence, echoing the cyclical nature of life and the universe. The looped video allows for endless regeneration — similar to Tibetan sand mandalas — where creation and dissolution become one.

Circle II has previously been shown at Jahrhunderthalle Bochum (2011), Centre Pompidou Metz (2014), and the Mori Art Museum, Tokyo (2015–2021). It is part of the collections of the Mori Art Museum (Tokyo) and Frac Lorraine (France).