Artist Statement · 畫家自述

 

Art Taipei is a huge venue hosting 120 galleries from over 10 countries. I chose this venue to showcase my new series "Transmutation" because in the social and political climate that we are all facing, when the world is going through such chaos and disruption, I felt inspired to share a message of awareness. That perhaps we can choose to shift our perspective into one that is inspired by love, tolerance, compassion, and respect.

 

With all the tragedies and challenges that we have faced--the war in Ukraine, Black Lives Matter, Asian hate crimes, wrongful deaths due to racism, LGBTQIA+ bullying and discrimination, and so much fear-based reaction throughout the world, I felt that our society really needed to take a good look at our intentions and to see how much fear is really dictating our daily lives. How can we as individuals and then collectively as a society transmute this tremendous amount of fear that pervades our lives into something that can melt the pain and light up the darkness. How can we be inspired from a place of love that understands instead of discriminates, that embraces instead of rejects, and that harmonizes instead of splinters our society. 

 

Unless we can really witness our fear, we are controlled and dictated by it. Anything done out of fear keeps us small and limited. It keeps us within our comfort zone but sacrifices our awareness and growth. It is only when we realize that there is so much more to our small fears that we can then act out of a place that encourages us to flourish. Wouldn't it be wonderful for us to come together as a team to support and build on each other's unique strengths rather than to derail each other for our differences. Transmuting fear into love is one of the most powerful things that we can do for ourselves but also for this world, for love is boundless and can light up our world.

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「台北國際藝術博覽會」是全球最頂尖的藝術盛會之一，匯集了世界各地一百二十多家畫廊的優秀創作者與作品。我會透過這次博覽會分享今年的新畫作《蛻變》系列，是因為現今的社會和政治氛圍讓我體會到──世界正在經歷前所未有的混亂與分裂，在此當下，更需要分享清醒與覺知的訊息。是這樣發自內心的呼喚，讓我希望與更多朋友分享一種覺知、一種清醒，一同重新看見一個由愛、寬容、慈悲與尊重引領的境界。

 

從俄烏戰爭、黑命貴、對亞裔族群的仇視、從種族歧視衍生的無辜傷亡、對LGBTQIA+非異性戀族群的歧視與霸凌……這世界處處可見受恐懼心理所激發的種種反彈。面對數也數不清的人間慘劇與挑戰，我想，人類社會真的需要一一重新審視自身的行為與動機，並且正視自己的生活已經受到恐懼全面支配的事實。

 

時候到了，讓我們想想如何從個人和社會整體著手，催生真正的蛻變──將生活無所不在的巨大恐懼轉化成一股新的力量，融化痛苦、照亮黑暗。讓我們從愛出發──放下偏見，試著彼此理解；跨過內心的高牆，打開心房相互擁抱；停止挑撥與刺激，融合社會不同的聲音。

 

唯有正視恐懼，才能擺脫恐懼的控制和支配。任何行動，只要是出於恐懼，不可能不帶來局限、不可能不讓我們變得渺小。恐懼，讓我們將自己禁錮在自以為的舒適圈，最終要以自身受限的覺察與成長付出代價。

 

除了內心的小小恐懼，這世界其實還有更多、更重要、更寶貴、更值得珍惜的價值與事物，只有充分明白這一點，我們才能真正建立一個彼此滋養的天地。

 

想想，如果你、我、每個人能放過表面的差異，真正團結起來，支持鼓勵彼此的優點、長處與力量，活在這樣的世界，多麼美好！

 

愛，沒有邊際。愛，足以點亮人間。

 

真正的蛻變──將恐懼化為愛，會是我們每一位能為自己、為世界帶來最大的幫助。