The Monologue of the Cloud

作品賞析

TSAI Chang-Chi studied art in Spain and began teaching and promoting photography as an art form when he returned to Taiwan. His work, The Monologue of the Cloud, is composed of five photographs all using “white clouds” as the subject and as a symbol of “freedom.” By using different angles and arrangements, TSAI Chang-Chi cleverly utilized photographic composition and various elements to create interactions between everyday sceneries and clouds, resulting in a fantastic theatrical effect. In the first panel, a statue of a child is approaching the clouds directly, simulating the child-like joy of chasing after the heavenly nimbuses. The second shows a butterfly net trying to scoop the clouds, highlighting the photographer’s humor as well as his mastery in photographic composition. The third picture shows cables and utility poles surrounding a cloud in order to explore interesting possibilities in mundane everyday objects. The fourth picture metaphorically presents a pigeon about to take flight into the wide expanse of the sky, communicating a positive atmosphere of optimism and hopefulness. The fifth shows a bird cage that seemed to have trapped a small white cloud, showing a strong desire for freedom. These five pictures, taken together, are filled with changes and surprises and shows TSAI Chang-Chi’s joyful experience and artful approaches in the creative process.