Art is not lost in the modern age

According to Chen Ming-nung (陳明濃), god gave his most exulted works to his favorite children, who are now called artists.

Chen lives in Pali (八里) township and occupies his time with pottery, painting and making furniture from driftwood. His two-story workshop on the coast is a marvel and is filled with intricately worked driftwood furnishings. His cupboards are filled with his pottery and it is impossible not to want to touch these delicate ceramic creations.

In the bathroom, the concrete floor is paved with local stone. The dining table is made of piled-up ceramic tiles, and 10 or so carved fish-shaped pieces of driftwood surround a lamp.

In the lounge, huge glass windows let in the sunshine. There are cabinets of cement mixed with ocean-washed bricks.

Chen said that the inspiration for most of his creations simply came to him from things he found lying around. Given the creativity that surrounds him, it is no surprise that Chen is content to spend his days in such surroundings.

Chen's works show an original talent. He said that, growing up near Pachang River (八掌溪) -- which divides Chiayi and Tainan counties -- he was always close to nature, but he also felt he had some degree of control over it. As a child, he drew inspiration from traditional puppet shows for his paintings, and the fish he watched in the river have now become a common motif in his ceramic work. As for driftwood, Chen said that he had piles stored on the roof of his house, and each was an inspiration for a new work of art. Making sculptures from driftwood was like finding the butterfly in the chrysalis, Chen said.

To make a living from his lifestyle, Chen has "commercial works, which are distinct from his personal works." But, he said, all of them are just as precious to him and every time he sells something he feels a pang of sorrow.

Chen's work is available through Eslite and he has occasional solo exhibitions.

Hand-wrought

A-deng's (阿等) studio, located on an old lane in Hsichih (汐止), Taipei County, lies beyond a stairway spotted with mould that contrasts with the grayish-white background and minimalist style of his living quarters and work space.

His works are scattered all over the studio and each piece of art seems to have its own designated corner. Apart from these pieces, almost everything in the studio, including door knobs, windows, floors, desks, and chairs are handmade by A-deng.

His work, including old-fashioned copper oil lamps, slate wall clocks and unique lamps are sold in home decoration stores all over Taiwan.

He said that these products are 70 percent to 80 percent aesthetically pleasing and just 10 percent to 20 percent utilitarian.

A-deng said half jokingly, "People say that there is one distinguishing characteristic of my lamps and also one characteristic of my clocks -- the heat of the lamps can scald your hands and the clocks may not keep the right time, and may suddenly run down."

He said that design is everything and he did not want to be hampered by conventional elements such as switches.

A-deng began his artistic career over 10 years ago. He started by installing light bulbs inside egg shells. Since then, his output has been enormous.

cruising

Cruising down Teng-hui Boulevard, in Danshui, rows of anonymous houses confront travelers, but breaking the monotony is Chang Yung-sheng's (張永生) quaint house, surrounded by farmland and bamboo.