Small Playful Objects – Agarwood（nail）

作品賞析

Artist Chen Han-Sheng grew up in rural Kaohsiung and often explores the relationship between nostalgia and modern civilized life through his creations. The inspiration for his “Small Playful Objects” series comes from the treasure chests that ancient people used for collecting rare treasures. He collects bits of his memories of his hometown scenery through chests, cases, and boxes. In this work, the artist used the techniques of making twined flowers to wrap silk thread into the shape of an agarwood tree. The trunk of the agarwood tree contains fungal tissue, so that when the tree is injured, it secretes oil. Over time, these oils will eventually form a fresh and elegant fragrance. Therefore, people often pound a nail into an agarwood tree to make it produce its fragrance. Chen Han-Sheng uses a power device to make the branches and leaves sway, which lets the viewer also feel the slight movement from the artist’s hometown long ago. It is as if he is awakening distant memories and re-arousing his inner homesickness.