Roselle

作品賞析

The inspiration for this painting, Roselle, came from the Bible. The bright red roselles remind artist Ho Huey-Chih of the precious blood shed by Jesus Christ when he was nailed to the cross. While roselle fruit is buried in soil, many new plants will grow, which recalls the Bible’s parable of the grain of wheat. The composition is presented from a downward perspective, so the viewer can fully see the different types of roselle flowers in back, including the common red roselle, the red and white zebra roselle, and the white crystal roselle. On the right side of the table, there is a large glass container with stainless steel utensils for example cutlery and fruit seed removers. In the foreground, common food items such as roselle preserves, jams, and popsicles are depicted. In terms of the main product of roselle flowers in Taitung County, Ho Huey-Chih specially painted the Taitung County flower, the white phalaenopsis orchid, on the table and three Formosa bulbuls on the foliage. On the left side, the newly sprouted roselle flowers in the blue flower pot and the eggs in the bird’s nest symbolize Jesus’ resurrection and the continuous regeneration of life, which also respond the inspiration of the theme.