Through fifteen years of practicing Zen martial arts and life-nurturing Qigong, Yu Peng underwent a profound personal transformation. He emphasized the Taoist tradition's focus on individual experience, believing that cultivation is not merely technical learning but an awakening and transcendence within daily life. In his philosophical vision, attaining the Way is not an unreachable mystical concept but a state of mind gradually comprehended through everyday existence. Taking painting as an example, he believed the essence of creation far exceeds visual expression, representing a deep integration of life and philosophy. Yu Peng's oil paintings can be traced to the Song dynasty artistic tradition of " investigation of things " , emphasizing that art is not merely observation of reality but a profound experience of existence. His works present landscapes both profound and ethereal. The seemingly impenetrable mountains and waters use winding paths, tranquil ponds, and cascading waterfalls to create fluidity within the composition. The winding paths are not only topographical features but metaphors for spiritual exploration; the still waters reflect like silent mirrors, refracting the deep and complex interplay of light and shadow within the inner world; the pouring waterfalls move like the rhythm of life's energy, penetrating the boundaries of perception. With almost poetic brushstrokes, Yu Peng transforms lived experience into imagery.

Yu Peng《 Clarifying the Mind at a Thatched Cottage 》 2011

Oil on Canvas 162 × 97 cm

In the work "Clarifying the Mind at a Thatched Cottage," distant mountain silhouettes appear broken and blurred, as if narrating some ancient story. Withered trees, scattered rocks, and sparse buildings intertwine, with reddish-brown tones flowing rhythmically like life's blood vessels. The shadowy human figures scattered throughout the painting pose an open question, inviting viewers to seek their inner spiritual landscape amid the flowing scenery—to "question" their aspirations, pursue their essence, and find their spiritual dwelling place within this ambiguous landscape. Hermits sitting quietly among withered trees and scattered rocks, a flash of bright red human figure in a thatched cottage—all hint at flowing emotions within. Yu Peng skillfully weaves together gray-brown, deep red, and dark blue to create a visual language between representation and abstraction. His brushwork is sometimes rough, sometimes delicate, and every image in the painting is not an endpoint but rather fragments of light and shadow depicted by the artist in the space between dreams and reality.

Yu Peng《 Cascading Rain 》 2011

Oil on Canvas 130 × 162 cm

In "Cascading Rain," the artist uses dripping techniques to create the misty imagery of rain, with brushstrokes falling from above like rainwater, blurring the boundaries between objects. The painting presents an almost abstract state, where objects seem to be dissolving yet simultaneously coalescing. Human figures standing throughout the scene are both visitors and passersby, existing between presence and absence. In the distance, vague mountain outlines are barely visible, while in the middle ground stands an isolated pavilion. The predominantly gray-white composition is dotted with several vivid colors, particularly a small bird on the right side that appears strikingly prominent. This touch of red seems to be the only signal of life in the entire gray-white world, like an exclamation point, adding dramatic tension to the scene.

Yu Peng was profoundly influenced by Taoist thought throughout his life, giving birth to numerous Taoist landscapes in his work. He once said: "My art grows naturally." Over 20 years of creative practice, Yu Peng used his works to reflect on human nature, pioneering new territory for contemporary art. His landscapes are not merely scenes but extensions of culture and spirit.