Long, Long Live (萬萬歲) is a solo show of painting, video and photography by Yao Jui-chung (姚瑞中). According the gallery’s press release, the exhibition synthesizes his lived experiences, where he updates — some might say rebels against — the tradition of Chinese ink painting. Yao’s Long Live Landscape, which measures 28 meters in length, will be displayed along with his latest video, which the exhibition is titled after, and other recent works.
Yao intentionally ignores the rules and formats of classical mountain and water painting (山水畫), using a needle-point pen instead of brush and ink, creating depth with layers of lines. In applying gold leaf in the voids of his compositions, Yao produces a simplicity and intimacy similar to the images found in household altars. In this vein, the artist also embeds friends and family in his works, creating works that defy the subject matter in traditional Chinese ink painting.
Having lived through Taiwan’s turbulent political and social changes, Yao often explores issues of history and society, especially those surrounding the political status of Taiwan and an ambiguous collective consciousness. His latest video Long, Long Live, filmed at the Oasis Villa on Green Island, once a reform and re-education prison housing political prisoners during Taiwan’s Martial Law period, examines history through reviewing Taiwan’s historical identity and revealing political conspiracies.
Photos Courtesy of Tina Keng Gallery
■ Tina Keng Gallery (耿畫廊), 15, Ln 548, Ruiguang Rd, Taipei City (台北市瑞光路548巷15號), tel: (02) 2659-0798. Open Tuesdays to Sundays from 10am to 7pm
■ Until March 31
Photos Courtesy of Tina Keng Gallery
Photos Courtesy of Tina Keng Gallery
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