Shan Jing Ting Quan Ming

作品賞析

The artist Chi Jung-Hao has a certain obsession about nocturnal mountain scenery. As evening approaches, he always drives into the mountains, because at nightfall the mountains exude a mysterious atmosphere. Old temples and green trees under the moonlight are slightly haloed, and the rippling sound of a mountain stream can easily be heard in the gully. Listening to the Waterfall in the Stillness of the Mountains uses a steeply slanted composition. The layered mountains and dense green forests are all parts of his memories of Taiwan’s mountain scenery. Chi Jung-Hao is very particular about his materials. He uses the fine hand-made ribbed gold paper from Goang Xing Paper Mill in Nantou, since he is fascinated by its untrimmed edges, which makes it seem raw. He also uses pine soot ink (shōen boku) made in Kishū, Japan and dyed mud pigments (suihi enogu). The bluish-black ink gives the air a deep, dim feeling. Chi says that “old things are less fiery,” and believes that aged paper and old ink can create an indescribable simplicity. The universe follows cycles of growth, stability, degeneration, and emptiness, and this mountain scene shows Chi Jung-Hao’s outlook on life and his inner spirituality.