Riding the wind

Zhao Dalu & Paul Zhao

Oil on canvas | Triptych, 300 cm x 140 cm

In Riding the Wind, a monumental cargo ship slices through an endless sea, forging ahead with purpose and power. The central perspective places the viewer directly in the ship’s path, evoking movement, determination, and global momentum.

Each brightly coloured container atop the vessel becomes a symbol of exchange—goods, ideas, cultures—moving between continents. The ocean stretches infinitely on both sides, its deep blues reflecting not just nature’s vastness but the unknown challenges and possibilities of progress.

The composition’s symmetry and dynamic brushwork reflect control and chaos coexisting—an allegory for modern civilisation’s journey. The painting becomes more than a maritime scene; it is a portrait of human ambition, resilience, and the quiet force of forward motion.