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作品賞析

Influenced by medieval manuscripts and ukiyo-e, artist Chang Yu-Hsien overcame the limitations of the old materials and used acrylic on canvas. The two terms “Abiding Heat” and “White Dew” are names of two solar nodes in the Chinese calendar that occur during the governing period of Virgo in the Western calendar. The composition also integrates the image from the tarot card “The Hermit,” which symbolizes Virgo, and in the foreground, there are various images that add a distinctive Taiwanese flavor—a sea of long yellow daylily (Hemerocallis citrina) from Taitung’s Mountain Liushishi, pomelo, and mooncakes. The upper part of the work depicts the sun high in the sky but surrounded by spinning, typhoon-like winds, reflecting the climate of the same period. In addition, the two male figures, one standing and one sitting and holding his knees, come from the artist’s own invented mythological world, “Scanquia” and represent “Abiding Heat” and “White Dew” respectively, which adds to the story-like atmosphere of the painting. The black bird perched on the standing figure’s hand and the little bird curled up on the ground derive from the description of “White Dew” in the Book of Rites.