Hsu Yu-jen exhibition showcases works from five-decade career

Hsu Yu-jen exhibition showcases works from five-decade career

2024-08-23

Today we take you to meet Taiwanese artist Hsu Yu-jen. Many of his works are a response to his observations about the environment. In his new exhibition, he is showcasing over 300 drawings and paintings in a variety of mediums. FTV reporter Stephany Yang spoke to Hsu to learn more about his career and the show.

This work was created by Hsu in 2004. He used calligraphy brushes to draw a huge egg, inscribing various words and sketches on newspaper.

Hsu Yu-jen
Artist
Newspapers are a critical object for people that bear text and images, but may disappear in the future. I collected a lot of old newspapers and used a brush to express my inner feelings. I drew an egg shape and used the brush to draw and write directly on it. Most of the words I wrote are related to pollution. It’s about the destruction of nature by humans and the corruption of officials.

This work is a reflection on changes in Taiwanese society in the 1990s under the influence of industrialization and urbanization.

Hsu Yu-jen
Artist
All land development in Taiwan was related to pollution in the early days. This is a global problem. So I used oil painting to portray landslides. After painting very lightly with turpentine, I painted it again. The layers became very rich. This building looks like it’s been constructed, but is about to fall apart or collapse. There are even more structures being built there. Below is a large community swimming pool. Someone is selling a house there, using classical music to sell it for a better price. Water is flowing down, and a high-voltage electricity tower on the hillside is about to collapse. I described the whole destruction of the land and expressed it with modern architecture.

Hsu is passionate about improving the environment, so many of his works were created using recycled materials.

Hsu Yu-jen
Artist
I feel like products are overproduced, so I will keep reusing them. Like a broken ballpoint pen, if it isn’t sharpened, I will stain it with ink or scratch it. I also use nails to draw. This charcoal I found on the mountain and burned with wood. Different charcoal produces different colors.

Throughout his five-decade career, Hsu has experimented with a variety of mediums including ink, Eastern ink painting, oil painting, stone sculpture, and mixed media. The exhibition is centered around four Chinese characters: "drowning," "floating," "sinking," and "eddying."

Hsu Yu-jen
Artist
Since up to 70% of the human adult body is water, and it is impossible to live without water, I use my feelings about water to contemplate my artistic expression.

The focus of his work has shifted from his own life experience, to changes in Taiwanese society in the 1990s under the influence of industrialization and urbanization, to present-day observations of Taiwan’s scenery and society. The exhibition will be held at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum until September 8.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

對於工業化和城市化的反思「溺浮沉洄：許雨仁回顧展」展出中

2024-08-23

今天帶大家來認識台灣藝術家許雨仁。他的許多作品都是對他對環境觀察的回應。在他的新展覽中「溺浮沉洄：許雨仁回顧展」，展出300多幅由不同媒材所繪畫的作品。一起來看看!

許雨仁於2004年創作此作品，他用毛筆畫了一個巨大的蛋，在報紙上寫下了各種文字和圖案。

[[藝術家許雨仁]]
“報紙是一個人類一個很重要的文字跟圖像的物件，可能以後會消失。我收集了很多舊報紙，用毛筆把我心裡的感受，畫了一個蛋的形狀，把毛筆很直接的畫，也寫一些文字。我大部分寫的字都是跟污染有關，就是人類對的大自然破壞，跟當官的貪汙"

這作品是許雨仁對於1990年代台灣社會在工業化和城市化影響下的改變，產生的反思。

[[藝術家許雨仁]]
"台灣的整個土地開發，在早期是跟污染有關係，這是全球性的問題，所以我那時後表達就是把土石流，用油畫的方式表達。我用很淡的松節油畫了以後，再來畫油畫，層次變得很豐富。這樓好像蓋好了，快要歪掉，倒掉了。這裡更在蓋，下面是一個社區的很大的游泳池，有人在那邊推銷房子，用古典音樂來讓這個房子可以賣得更好。水流下來，山坡上的高壓電塔也快倒了，所以我影射了整個對土地破壞，用現代建築的現象來表達"

許雨仁熱衷於改善環境，因此他許多作品都是使用回收材料創作的。

[[藝術家許雨仁]]
"我感覺現在的東西產能太多了，所以我會一直使用。有壞掉的原子筆，沒有墨了，我就會沾墨或是刮，我也用鐵釘來畫。這個炭是我在山上找到，木枝燒一燒，不同的炭，產生的顏色不一樣"

在他50年的職業生涯中，許雨仁嘗試了多種媒介，包括水墨、東方水墨、油畫、石雕和混合媒介。展覽圍繞著四個字：「溺」、「浮」、「沉」、「洄」。

[[藝術家許雨仁]]
“因為我感覺我們人，大概百分之70是水，不可能沒有水，所以我用對水的感受，對大自然的水來感受，來思維我對藝術的表達"

他的創作重點從自身的生活經歷，轉向1990年代工業化、城市化影響下的台灣社會變遷，以目前對台灣風景與社會的觀察。展覽在臺北市立美術館展出至9月8日。

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On the 66th anniversary of the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis, President Lai Ching-te personally traveled to Mount Taiwu in Kinmen to preside over a memorial. Family members of the fallen soldiers were moved to tears upon seeing the president.

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Lai Ching-te
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As Taiwan continues to face threats from China today, President Lai voiced hope that the people of Taiwan will unite and remain resolute in defending the nation.

Lai Ching-te
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As threats from China against Taiwan, the Penghu Islands, Kinmen, and Matsu are as severe they were in previous years, we must remain determined to protect these territories and defend the R.O.C. The Second Taiwan Strait Crisis occurred before I was born and before the Democratic Progressive Party was even established. This shows that China’s intent to take Taiwan is not influenced by any individual or political party’s statements or actions. We need to understand this. Therefore, if we are to resist the threats from China in the future, we must remain united.

President Lai addressed the people, urging unity and determination in defending Taiwan. He also emphasized the DPP’s stance on the cross-strait relations, highlighting Taiwan’s position in the ongoing geopolitical situation.

Lai Ching-te
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Our goal is to seek peaceful development across the Taiwan Strait. We no longer aim to retake the mainland, but we also do not wish to be ruled by the Communist Party. We want to continue living in a democracy with freedom, human rights, and the rule of law.

This is President Lai’s first visit to Kinmen since taking office. As the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, Lai’s visit is a clear demonstration of Taiwan’s and his own determination.

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When North Korea appears in global newscasts, it’s usually scenes like this that dominate. The country’s leader, Kim Jong Un, overseeing a weapons test.

But those kinds of martial images obscure much of what’s really going on in the country, says North Korean defector Lee Seong-min.

Lee Seong-min
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North Korea is more than nuclear weapons and Kim Jong Un. There are a lot of people with different perspectives and hopes and goals for the future of their country.

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Lee Seong-min
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A lot of people are talking about North Korea, scholars and experts, but there are subtle differences when you hear the voices of North Koreans who lived there in that system.

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Zane Han, a former Pyongyang resident, fled North Korea just two years ago.

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Lee says one of his goals is to speak for North Koreans who have no voice and cannot leave.

Lee Seong-min
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Doing what he can to provide a more nuanced perspective of his homeland.

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As you take a stroll among the century-old pine trees, you can hear frogs croaking in the pond. Birds chirp up above and the scent of flowers fills the air. This is the Pine Garden, a well-known tourist landmark in Hualien. The Pine Garden’s operator has announced the site will close at the end of August. Visitors say it’s a real pity.

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