This imposing vertical
composition focuses on a single twisted, skeletal tree branch reaching upward
toward a pale-yellow moon. Rendered primarily in blacks and weathered greys
using ink and mineral colours on silk mounted on canvas, the monumental scale
emphasizes the dramatic height of the main branch, depicted with bold, gestural
brushstrokes that contrast with intricate fine lines of tangled roots at the
base. A small splash of intense blue at the bird's head focuses attention on
this figure, while other subtle touches of colour – hints of pink and earth
tones – appear within the predominantly monochrome palette. The tree with its
exposed root system evokes Yang's recurring self-portrait motif of the uprooted
tree — a symbol of the artist displaced from his homeland yet continuing to
reach upward, floating between cultures. The composition demonstrates Yang's
continued engagement with traditional Chinese ink painting aesthetics while
employing contemporary expressive brushwork.