Turning some old scrap into gold and silver

作品賞析

While rummaging through discarded appliances, artist Chen Zhoa-Hua discovered that their compressors —vital to the machines t much like a heart —were often in good condition. This sense of being “still functional and essential, yet frequently cast aside” reminded him of his own early career. His studio, located in the humid mountainous region of Tamsui, flooded during heavy rains, and his work often involved clients who ignored his professional advice. While immersed in self-doubt and tiresome introspection, Chen gained the strength to turn his mind around by a taro plant that was flourishing in a corner. On a rectangular table rests a modified compressor and a damaged, rusted yellow water pump—a microcosm of his studio. Using precise refrigerant control techniques, the artist creates frost-covered leaves on either side of the massive copper taro. They are metaphors for his own low, icy heart. Chen Zhoa-Hua skillfully combines these metallic media, transforming his life into nourishment for his creations.