Spell to Shift Mountains and Overturn Seas (移山倒海) sees a man dressed as a spirit medium attempting to bridge the chasm between the two sexes, which here appear as headless naked bodies holding replicated heads of the medium in their outstretched hands — as if to suggest that the medium becomes the individual requiring sexual release.
Spirit Dreaming Conjuration (夢魂術) continues the exploration of sexual imagery. Embracing in the center are three figures dressed in outfits resembling Elvis’ tacky Liberace-inspired 1970s stage clothing. On both sides of the figures, a spirit medium dances above a partially naked figure in repose over a bed of water.
After discussing the images with Wu and his career as an artist — one that saw him actively involved in the dangwai (黨外, outside the KMT) movement — I was left with the impression that he is somewhat pessimistic about Taiwanese finding their own identity through the glitz and distraction of contemporary global culture. Nevertheless, the works revel in the island’s diversity of cultures and are rich enough in symbolism to keep the observer transfixed for hours.
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