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According
to ancient Chinese philosophy, every existence is made up of
the five elements (wu xing): water, wood, fire, earth and metal
that are in perpetual states of change. To maintain a healthy
state, the forces of each of these elements has to be in perfect
balance.
Having
been through pregnancy, childbirth and watching the growth of
my son in the past two years, I start to feel deeply how strong
yet how fragile human beings could be. We are in constant states
of change. Opposite forces give rise and work against one another.
The relationship between human existence and the overall being
of the universe is inseparable.
The
series of mixed media painting "Forcing" is a reflection on
these thoughts.
Rock and egg are metaphors for strength and weakness. However,
the relationship between these two opposite nature of things
is not absolute. In my paintings, the egg is being placed in
a delicate position between the rocks, yet the egg stays intact
due to the transformation of energy by the perfect design of
the eggshell. Human DNA, cells, fetuses are all formed in tune
or against different forces of nature.
The
physical manipulation of the painting’s material is another
reflection about elemental cycles. All the material on the painting
has been transformed by the force of other elements. The delicate
wood pattern is the result of forceful attack by metal tool.
The once flexible rice paper was bonded by water and became
an integral part of the painting’s hard surface. Massive mineral
has been turned into powdery pigment and dissolved into water
. . . the cycles never end.
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