Zhang Yongjiu was originally a writer and only began learning to paint when he was approaching seventy.

In Chinese philosophy, Confucius described the stages of life with a well-known phrase:

“At seventy, one may follow the heart’s desires without overstepping boundaries.”

It means that at this age, a person can act freely according to inner instinct,

while still remaining within a natural sense of measure and order.

It was at this stage of life that Zhang Yongjiu entered painting.

His work does not aim to demonstrate technique or formal mastery.

Instead, it reflects the perspective of someone who has lived a full life,

using painting as a way to express his understanding of the universe, creation, and existence.

The recurring images of the cosmos and human-like forms in his work

are not fantasy or decoration.

They emerge from years of writing and reflection,

serving as a visual expression of his perception of the world, life, and the nature of the universe.