Having a brush with radicals

It's amazing how three simple brush strokes can cause such an inward stir. Yet when those three strokes are repeated hundreds of times to create patterns -- similar to Op Art -- they become something of a challenge to interpret. This is the case with Huang Chih-yang's (黃致陽) solo exhibition,Three Marks, which is bound to generate as much interest as it is puzzlement.

In his current series of paintings Huang continues with the theme of communication expressed in an earlier series, Lovers' Library, which also uses the repetition of a brush-stroke pattern. The Lovers' Library paintings take on human form in order to reflect the interplay between people, Huang explained.

However, his new series of 13 paintings remain shapeless so as to expand on the theme of communication not only between individuals, but also between people and nature, spirituality and technology.

A contemporary ink artist, Huang draws on traditional Chinese motifs in his work. By using the pictograph for "group" (眾) as the "three mark" symbol he illustrates how modes of communication have evolved over time. When viewed on its own the motif represents an ancient character no longer used, but then when a painting is viewed from a distance the repeated motif resembles a computer code.

Part of an ongoing project, Three Marks is a second installation following the video series titled I Am Cute Cell that looks at the growth of bacteria cells on a microscopic level. According to Huang, the "three marks" resemble cells in the way they multiply and take on new forms. The association with cells, he explained is to integrate the concept of energy or "qi" (氣) into his new work.

"Energy is in everything. There is energy in people, nature, objects and there is also an energy between people and objects," he said.

While the exhibition is bound to leave a few onlookers grappling with the artist's conceptual intentions, Huang insists there is no limit to the interpretation of his paintings and his only challenge to the viewer is to try and sense the energy being communicated between the art, the artist and the observer.

Exhibition notes:

Huang Chih-yang's solo exhibition runs till April 25 at the Lin & Keng Gallery.

When: The gallery is open

Tuesday to Sunday, from 11am to 7pm.

Where: 1F, 11, Ln 252, Tunhua S Road, Sec 1, Taipei (台北市敦化南路一段252巷11號1樓).

Call: (02) 2750 8811.