Artist Jiang Miao is presenting a solo exhibition titled Spiral of Energy at Whitestone Gallery in Seoul, running through August 23, 2026. The show features several series of painted wood carvings, including Heavenly Eyes, Mindfulness, Origin, and Taoist Trinity and the Self. Miao's work draws on the spiral as a universal symbol found in nature and ancient cultures, representing growth, cycles of life, and evolution.
The artist meticulously carves intricate textures into wood panels before applying vibrant acrylic paint to create sensorial movement, contrast, and glow. According to the gallery, the spiral symbolizes life, time, and the cyclical order of the universe, while color serves as a vessel for invisible energy beyond the material world. The Heavenly Eyes series proposes a perspective beyond ordinary human vision, contemplating existence and universal order.
The Mindfulness series explores the nature of life through introspection and awakened consciousness. The Taoist Trinity and the Self series consists entirely of tondos, or circular works, emphasizing perpetualness. Some pieces reach monumental scale, with one work measuring approximately seven feet in diameter.
Miao's process combines carving and painting in a way that is inherently concerned with time, concentration, spirituality, and mindfulness. The exhibition includes works on both wooden boards and aluminum panels, with dimensions ranging from 55 centimeters to over 170 centimeters. All images are courtesy of the artist and Whitestone Gallery, shared with permission.
The show continues a long artistic tradition of spiral imagery, from Neolithic stone carvings at Newgrange in Ireland to prehistoric pottery motifs discovered in Thailand. Miao's contemporary interpretation connects Eastern philosophical concepts with this ancient visual language. The gallery describes both the approach and result as meditative practices that engage viewers in contemplation of cyclical time and spiritual energy.
Monumental Painted Wood Carvings by Jiang Miao Center Mindfulness
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