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Local artist explores `the boundless'

You can hang A-Sun-Wu's new creation Yu Hsi Jen Chien (遊戲人間, Playing Around) from all directions. The painting by scratches of brush in Chinese red reflects A-Sun's recent awakening in artistic recreation -- namely letting go of his ego.

Known for use of bold colors depicting themes from native people in Taiwan, Africa, South America and the South Pacific, the Taiwanese painter said that in recent years, he has been learning to shift from fixing his sight on objects to allowing his eyes to roam.

"When there is no up or down, left or right, the perception of the painting is boundless," he said.

A-sun said that he chose Yu Hsi Jen Chien as the cover of the catalog of the 100 paintings and sculptures he has donated to the Buddhist Compassionate Relief Tzu Chi Foundation (慈濟基金會) in order to convey the message of his progress.

Discussing the development of his style, A-Sun said that seeking breakthroughs is a never ending torment and the task of every artist. He said he has gone through several transformations since the late 1960s, when he was a student in the Department of Fine Arts at National Taiwan Normal University.

Admirers of A-Sun's paintings will find that aboriginal themes have remained very important throughout the various stages of his artistic career.

The harsh environment of Africa had a strong impact on the artist when he first visited South Africa and Namibia in 1979. In fact, viewers may find that the African natives in A-Sun's paintings are in many ways identical to natives from other places that he has painted.

In the 1980s and 1990s, A-Sun did a lot of traveling. To paint about his journeys, A-Sun gradually developed his unique style, which has been described by international art critics as "painting the heart of the native world."

Since the late 1990s, A-Sun has spent most of his time in his studio in Paris. "There are at least 100,000 painters in Paris, but no more than 400 of them are able to have their creations shown in art contests or museums," according to the Taiwanese painter.

"To remain on top, it takes a lot of hard work," he added.

In his studio, A-Sun has been working almost round-the-clock. He said that he was able to complete 900 paintings between January and October last year, challenging the record of the master he most admires, Pablo Picasso, who was able to paint 1,000 pieces a year.

"The reminiscence of my Odyssey years has provided me with an abundance of creative resources, and I also find my themes from the current surroundings," he said.

Between 1994 and 1995, A-Sun created a series of paintings of men and women. The faces in the paintings are distorted, "because in my impression, those were the years of distortion."

"I entered a new phase of comprehension after my years in New York in the late 1990s," A-Sun said, adding that the meetings with some Chinese Buddhist masters there led him to appreciate the grace and mercy of Buddha.
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