Introduction
Translating wild, bizarre phenomena into ambiguous and intriguing visual vocabulary within reality’s confines.
Chu Yu-Yi’s (1967-) oil paintings bring rich colours and imagination to this exhibition. A professor at the Fine Arts Department at National Taiwan Normal University, Chu’s creations span multiple fields, including drawing, watercolour, and oil painting. His work conveys a unique philosophy, seeking to weave abstraction and representation seamlessly together. Using avant-garde techniques, he reinterprets the mysteries of the natural world, transforming them into his own original, captivating visual symbols.
“The Imagery of Pine” series draws inspiration from the pine tree, a favourite subject of Eastern literati, ingeniously combining Eastern philosophical thinking with contemporary artistic techniques. The series uses dynamic ink structures as its visual language, incorporating traditional Eastern calligraphic techniques and aesthetics with layers of oil paint rich in tension. The result conveys a visually saturated, expressive, and vibrant atmosphere. In Chu’s paintings, the ‘pine tree’ transcends mere representation, becoming a medium for the artist to explore the intersection of nature and humanity.
The works incorporate elements such as written text, animal totems, and landscapes, evoking the mystical concept of ‘a mustard seed containing Mount Sumeru’ (a symbol of vastness within smallness). Through his art, Chu Yu-Yi explores philosophical themes of freedom and tranquility, mystery and intensity, presenting the unity of opposites. “The Imagery of Pine” series celebrates the resilience of life and reflects the artist’s ongoing quest to transcend the limits of reality and pursue spiritual freedom.