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Young artist not shaken by China

"The creation of art should not be hindered by political matters ... that [China] would stoop so low is regrettable."

Pan Wen-chuang, director of Taipei County's bureau of education

Although his prize-winning painting was disqualified from becoming a commemorative stamp because the UNESCO succumbed to pressure from Beijing, the 15-year-old Yang Chih-yuan (楊智淵) said yesterday that he will not be frustrated by China and will stand by his passion for the arts and his country.

Last Thursday, Beijing pressured the UNESCO to scrap Yang's selected work which was meant to be printed on stamps to commemorate International Peace Day on Sept. 21, saying that Taiwan's national flag shown in the boy's painting was an attempt at "splitting China's territory."

In addition to Taiwan, five other paintings drawn by child artists from Thailand, Israel, Indonesia and Peru and Philippines were also chosen to become commemorative stamps. Yang's work, however, was soon dropped and replaced by the work of a Belize boy after UNESCO buckled under pressure from Beijing.

Pan Wen-chuang (潘文忠), director of Taipei County's bureau of education yesterday went to Yang's Junior High School in Hsinchu to encourage Yang to continue to be a voice for Taiwan through his art. Pan gave Yang a commendation and a new set of paint supplies as motivation to continue his work.

"China's actions toward this child are unacceptable," Pan said yesterday.

"The creation of art should not be hindered by political matters ... that they would stoop so low is regrettable," he added.

With an impressive array of colors, Yang's work represents children's desire for peace and security.

In the picture, two children are riding a dove, symbolizing the escape from war and towards a peaceful nation. The right side shows a scene of war, with homeless children crying amid looming tanks, while the left side of the picture shows a joyful earth with vivid colors.

Most noticeably, a string of DNA-like spiral comprising national flags goes around the dove. The ROC flag is among them.

Yang said that his painting was inspired by the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the US.

"I just don't understand why my art was dragged into politics," Yang said yesterday. "I was born in Taiwan. I just want to draw what is in my mind. I will go on painting and I will have no misgivings about drawing the national flag into my work," Yang said.

Yang suffered from hydrocephalus when he was born. At only 3 months old he underwent an operation to install a tube in his head to channel water to his abdomen. This tube created limitations for the child, and his sense of equilibrium and motor skills were also hindered by the surgery.

"But it also helped me concentrate on painting," the boy said. "I can always have a calm head."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized China's move by issuing a protest statement on Sunday, and the Chunghwa Post Co (中華郵政公司) will soon publish stamps of Yang's work at the suggestion of the Presidential Office.
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