Artist uses asphalt to create unique paintings

Artist uses asphalt to create unique paintings

2025-07-22

Many artists use oil paints, water colors or acrylics to create art, but you might never guess what Taiwanese artist Ho Chen-fang uses. It’s asphalt! That’s right, the black material used to pave roads. FTV reporter Stephany Yang sat down with Ho to learn about her creative process and the unique techniques she uses.

This is Taiwanese artist Ho Chen-fang, whose works combine asphalt with acrylic paint and are inspired by animals, scenery, and imaginative creatures.

Ho Chen-fang
Artist
I am currently researching asphalt, which has become my primary creative material. Asphalt is not a traditional painting medium, so it has many properties that make it challenging for artistic creation. That’s why I started exploring ways to combine asphalt with traditional materials and incorporate some unique elements.

She discovered asphalt nine years ago after meeting asphalt painter Chiu Hsi-hsun. She learned from Chiu, and it inspired her to study and develop her own distinctive style.

Ho Chen-fang
Artist
I am now in my ninth year working with asphalt. Eight years ago, I had the opportunity to meet a teacher—an experienced asphalt painter named Chiu Hsi-hsun. I started learning from him. In addition to my studies, I have been researching the unique patterns that asphalt can create. So far, I have discovered over 40 distinct textures that can only be formed using asphalt, making them different from conventional materials. My current artistic approach combines three-dimensional elements with flat patterns to highlight the unique characteristics of my work.

Her creative process is highly laborious and challenging. She melts asphalt at 300–400°C and carefully applies it to her paintings.

Ho Chen-fang
Artist
For example, in this piece, the three-dimensional elements are particularly striking, especially in the black areas. To achieve this effect, asphalt must first be heated to 300–400°C. I observe the cooling process carefully to determine the ideal state for creating different textures. I have experimented with other materials to see if they could replace asphalt, but I discovered that asphalt has unique physical properties that sets it apart from other materials. Because of this, I consider it a highly distinctive medium. There are many details about asphalt that I have yet to fully explore, and I believe that uncovering them could lead to even more artistic avenues.

Ho hopes to continue to study asphalt and discover new ways to incorporate the medium into her art.

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

#asphalt #art #artist #painting #藝術家 #柏油 #柏油藝術家

以柏油為創作媒材藝術家何承芳專訪

2025-07-22

許多藝術家使用油畫顏料、水彩或壓克力顏料來創作藝術作品，但台灣藝術家何承芳使用柏油來創作!沒錯，就是用來鋪路的黑色油狀物體。一起來看看!

這是台灣藝術家何承芳，擅長運用柏油入畫，或與壓克力顏料、各種媒材結合，她的作品靈感多來自動物、風景和富有想像力的事物。

[[藝術家何承芳]]
"我現在主要是研究柏油，做了我主要的創作材料，柏油其實並不是一個傳統的繪畫媒材，所以它基本上有非常多的特性是不太適合創作的，我就開始研究說，我要這麼樣把柏油結合傳統的媒材，再加上一些比較特別的材料"

九年前因緣際會下，何承芳認識柏油藝術家邱錫勳，之後她開始向邱錫勳學習，並激勵她繼續研究並發展自己獨特風格。

[[藝術家何承芳]]
"我目前邁向第九年，是因為八年前，有機會接觸到一位老師，她是柏油畫家，現在年紀已經滿年長，他是邱錫勳。因為有機會接觸到，就開始跟他學習，我還有研究柏油有什麼特別的花紋，目前我研究出40幾種，就是柏油才可以做出來的特別花紋，就是有別於一般的繪畫媒材，我現在是以立體，再加上平面花紋的部分，來主要呈現我的繪畫特色"

何承芳的創作過程非常艱苦且有挑戰性。以300-400°C的高溫將柏油融化，然後小心地將柏油塗在畫作上。

[[藝術家何承芳]]
"像是這幅，它立體的部分非常明顯，有黑色的部分，由於柏油它立體的呈現上，我們需要先加熱到300-400度，以肉眼的方式，我去觀察她降溫到同程度的部分，可以做成不同的效果。我有試著用其他的材料，來想說，可不可以取代柏油，但是我發現柏油有一些物理上的特性，所以我覺得它現在還是一個非常有特色的媒材。我覺得柏油有非常多的細節是我目前還沒有研究出來的，我覺得如果研究出來，效果會很好"

何承芳持續深入研究、探索柏油及各種媒材，期望碰撞出新火花，融入她的藝術。

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