​然 [rán]

The term “然”[rán] translates to “nature” and is generally associated with the natural world paired with spontaneity. Nature has the unique ability to powerfully, yet quietly, appeal to our senses in a way that directly influences the human condition, our perception of passing time, and the formation and reliving of core memories. However, because many aspects of the natural world, such as the changing seasons, the cycles of night and day, and the pushing and pulling of tides, are such constant parts of our lives, we tend to take them for granted. We forget that despite these predictable routines, nature never truly repeats itself; no snowflake has the same formation, no two stones are identical, no leaf falls in the same place twice, and no water ripples ever flow in the same pattern again. Our contributing artists act as a voice to remind us of nature’s silent power and to put a spotlight on its momentary characteristics that are so often overlooked.