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About the Painting
“樂,” read as lè for “joy” or yuè for “music,” holds a rich dual meaning—two experiences deeply intertwined in the human spirit.
The artist Tam’s wet, fluid strokes bring this character to life, flowing with rhythm and dance. The parts “幺幺” depicts threads or cords, and a wooden base “木” beneath a central element “白” which, in ancient scripts, resembles parts of a musical instrument. Ancient pictographs show instruments aligned in harmony—a celebration of worship in motion. Music is the embodied expression of joy.
Tam invites us to consider: can worship become our joy? For in a broken world, “樂” is a bold declaration, an act of defiance that dares to proclaim and sing of God’s goodness, even in the dissonance of pain. This is true joy–not escape, but encounter. Not performance, but praise.
“In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11)