Tuning…
Prose
on Spring Soil:
Here comes
the rain
Ravaged,
the flower dances lightly in the wind
Ere
disappearing in the mire
Twirled
round and round
It passes
away for a voyage around
Awaiting
the next bright bloom
Titled Saku-lala-ra, this series of paintings
is an extension of creative works developed by the artist for the Formosan
cherry curatorial project named Third Voyage** between 2018
and 2019. The curatorial project focused on the concept of the reincarnation
and inter-connections of life.
When the artist returns to working with her expertise of
painting, what is preserved is the spirituality, delicacy and profound beauty
of cherry blossoms. The artist hopes that the art works will provide an
opportunity to reveal the cherry blossoms forever in the heart of the artist,
allowing them to bloom once again in another format.
The series of Saku-lala-ra paintings are all named after
their media characteristics, year and created-order.
In
contrast to many artists who typically emphasize the vibrant appearance or
stance of flowers, the ongoing exhibition showcasing Saku-lala-ra artworks
predominantly employs oil on canvas to capture and explore the enduring
resilience and profound spirituality embodied by my dearly departed companion,
the Formosan cherry tree. Rather than succumbing to death, it undergoes a
perpetual metamorphosis, remaining steadfast within my soul. The Saku-lala-ra
series has become a central motif in the artist's ongoing journey of creative
exploration, with the anticipation that it will continue to evolve in diverse
iterations throughout different stages of life.
In Taiwan, the Formosan cherry blossom season generally lasts from January to around April, and it often rains during that time. This piece can be described as an impression of cherry blossom rain. It also reflects my impression of my grandfather's Formosan cherry blossoms and its life.
**《Third voyage》:
The "Third Voyage - Cross-disciplinary Installation
Art Exhibition" project originated from a cherry tree in the home of
artist Huang Kai-Hsing’s grandmother. Due to the withering and wilting of the
cherry tree in the mountains, the roots are more affected by the irregular
heavy rain caused by climate change, causing damage to the soil after being
soaked. After living for nearly 40 years, the tree doctor judged its physical
death to be the end of 2017. Having put emotions and projections into the
cherry tree, the cherry tree symbolizes a link to various people, things, and
places. The artist also considers the cherry tree as a part of his life experiences.
Thus, analogous to the last voyage of a farewell ceremony, the artist combines
installations, music, floral art, video art, and symposiums to constitute
the exhibition. At the same time, the exhibition explores the connection
between art, environment, climate change, individual, survival, and life.
