Artwork Appreciation
LIN Wei-Hsiang grew up classically trained in the arts. To him, the creative process is like embarking on a quiet spiritual journey. In Traces of Travel (15), a rock is surrounded by five trees, whose trunks, branches and leaves are concealed in a pervading mist. The overall scene is like a dreamscape, drawing the viewer in. The painting is chiefly composed of yellows and greens, with soft brushstrokes outlining rolling hills and minute chunks of color heaping up to form a mist-shrouded valley scene. This gives the oil painting the appearance of a water-and-ink painting, with elegant variations in density and a rich charm. The scene gives the viewer a serene, carefree feeling, like the sense of contentment after a trip around the world. It’s an instant of beauty painted as an unadorned yet secluded spiritual scene.