Orchid — The Virtue of Elegance & Refinement
The Orchid Bonsai has always been the quiet poet among the four — admired not for extravagance, but for refinement. It grows in shade and solitude, offering beauty without asking to be seen.
In this illustration, the orchid takes the form of a bonsai suspended in delicate balance — blossoms circling like a gentle frame of thought. As usual, hidden within, a small cat lingers beneath the blooms, unbothered and content. It’s a reminder that grace doesn’t have to be fragile, and stillness can be its own form of strength.
This piece carries the meditative calm of brush and breath — an ode to restraint, Chen Xi hopes this piece reminds the quiet pursuit of beauty, and to the art of being at ease with oneself.