A year later, I found myself back in Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanic Garden (XTBG). This time, I had returned to complete the final painting for the exhibition—and to begin what we had been preparing for so long: our exhibition marathon.
At first, it felt as though nothing had changed. The landscape, the atmosphere, the rhythm of the garden—all remained familiar. Only the people were different. Some had moved on to new paths, while others had joined the XTBG community. Despite this, settling back in felt effortless, as if I had never really left.
After a few days spent navigating paperwork and finding a new place to work, I was ready to begin again.
I couldn’t return to my studio from the previous year, even though it was still exactly as I had left it. The weather in Xishuangbanna had turned intense—humid and heavy—and the space had become almost impossible to work in, even with air conditioning. Fortunately, my friend Kyle, professor from XTBG, kindly offered to share his office with me. We made it work, though he was convinced someone was constantly knocking at the door. It wasn’t me.
I settled into this new space, overlooking the mountains—real rainforest mountains, not the endless lines of rubber plantations—and with good, steady light. From there, I returned to one of my favourite places in the garden: the orchid nursery.
The nursery is always overwhelming. So many extraordinary orchids flowering at once, each one demanding attention. Choosing what to paint becomes almost impossible. I spent hours simply looking, photographing, and observing, before finally selecting my specimen: Dendrobium fimbriatum.
Dendrobium fimbriatum
June 2016
This became the tenth—and final—painting of the project.
Dendrobium was the one genus missing from my series, and I had hoped to catch it at exactly the right moment. In May, it was in full bloom, with fresh buds just beginning to appear—an ideal stage to observe and paint.
The painting took about a month to complete. I worked steadily but without pressure, allowing time to observe, to step back, and occasionally to rest. Some days I painted, others I simply walked and absorbed this remarkable landscape.
At the same time, we were working as a team to finalise the exhibition preparations. There was a shared sense of momentum—everything gradually coming together.
And finally, when the last painting was complete and all preparations were in place, we were ready.
Ready to begin the exhibition.
What had started as an idea had become something real—built slowly, collectively, and with care.
This list of species:
1.
白柱万代兰
Bái zhù wàn dài lán
Vanda brunnea Rchb.f.
2.
彩云兜兰
Cǎi yún dōu lán
Paphiopedilum wardii Summerh.
3.
麻栗坡兜兰
Málìpō dōulán
Paphiopedilum malipoense var. jackii (H.S.Hua) Aver.
4.
海南钻喙兰
Hǎinán zuān huì lán
Rhynchostylis gigantea (Lindl.) Ridl.
5.
高褶带唇兰
Gāo zhě dài chún lán
Ania viridifusca (Hook.) Tang & F.T.Wang ex Summerh
6.
莎叶兰
Shā yè lán
Cymbidium cyperifolium Wall. ex Lindl.
7.
白棉绒兰
Bái mián róng lán
Dendrolirium lasiopetala (Willd.) S.C.Chen & J.J.Wood
8.
恩西纳尔贝母兰
En xī nà ěr bèi mǔ lán
Coelogyne lawrenceana Rolfe
9.
禾叶贝母兰
Hé yè bèi mǔ lán
Coelogyne viscosa Rchb.f.
10.
流苏石斛
Liú sū shí hú
Dendrobium fimbriatum Hook.
