Still in Flight — Tonbo Dragonfly Series | Original Framed Panel Painting

TONBO — Dragonfly Series

The Tonbo Series is a four-piece body of work by a young Chinese artist and university educator, inspired by the experience of Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi’s live performance and the enduring spirit of his iconic song Tonbo (とんぼ / “Dragonfly”).

In Tonbo, the dragonfly carries an emotional world far larger than the insect itself—aspiration, struggle, loneliness, freedom, and the determination to continue forward while remaining true to oneself. Drawing from that spirit, the artist transforms the dragonfly into a recurring visual symbol of youth and the pursuit of one’s own path.

Across four compositions, the dragonfly rises, hovers, touches the water, and spreads its wings. Each captures a different moment in the journey, while together they form a meditation on ambition, uncertainty, resilience, and freedom.

II. 

Still in Flight

In Still in Flight, the dragonfly is viewed from above, its four delicate wings extended against a quiet field of mint green. Suspended almost perfectly within the composition, it appears caught between movement and stillness.

Inspired by the emotional world of Tonbo, this work reflects a quieter part of the journey—the moments when progress is not defined by speed, but by the determination simply to remain in flight.

Its vivid red body provides a striking counterpoint to the translucent wings and softly textured background. The result is an image of balance, persistence, and quiet resilience.

Presented in a substantial wood frame with a dark layered finish and light inner border, the work is framed and ready to display.

Details

Artwork Size: 40 × 50 cm (15.7 × 19.7 in)

Framed Size: 62 × 72 cm (24.4 × 28.3 in)

Medium: Panel Painting

Frame: Wood Frame

Orientation: Vertical / Portrait

Series: Tonbo — Dragonfly Series

Artwork: Original

Presentation: Framed and ready to display