Mazu, a tutelary deity like a loving mother, accompanied the early settlers crossing the sea from Southeastern China to Taiwan. While opening up the virgin soil, people relied on her for protection spiritually. Her worship has therefore widely spread throughout the whole island, forming a so-called “Mazu Culture”. As an icon of local culture, Mazu inspires me to begin a series of creations. I stumbled into the lacquer art through serendipity. In the ancient time, lacquer wares were common supplies owned by the high society; however, they have been nearly no longer used in daily life today since novel materials’ popularity and lower cost have substituted their practical functions. It gives me a thought that how I am able to combine the feature of natural lacquer with the art of ink wash painting and calligraphy which I have studied at National Taiwan University of Arts. I would like to make an attempt to utilize those antique media and think in innovation to create my exclusive lacquer painting with a contemporary style and rich artistic connotation.

“Virtual vs. authentic” is an oriental ideology and a key impression appearing in ink wash painting. Lacquer painting and ink wash painting are two distinct arts. Blending them in my works is definitely going to be an inventive challenge. Calligraphy, a long standing art form of Chinese writing, demonstrates a unique attraction of lines. Unfortunately, such ancient tradition seems has been gradually declined nowadays. Applying calligraphy to painting can initiate a new possibility; not to let calligraphy and painting walk on individual path as usual is also the core for this study. The techniques of “dislocating”, “dividing” and “overlapping”, allow illustrations of painting to present more diversity beyond merely description. After dividing, the image of painting by employing different skills and colors can produce geometric color blocks or deliver the sense of dislocating of different time zones. The feature of natural lacquer is perfectly great for expressing the beauty of line and texture, enabling me to look for added level of artistry and visual effects as lacquer painting is seen as a craft as well.

Shaping a personal art style could be a lengthy journey. Through this study, I intend to explore art languages in a series of works and go further on discovering the taste of lacquer painting and my own character. The artworks and thesis which I have completed during the current stage is just the start point of my future creations. There is no doubt that many tries on errors will occur constantly. Bearing a pioneering spirit, I will persist in achieving my goal with no regret.