Rukai artist Pacake Taugadhu has had a passion for painting since childhood, but he often used the wrong colors, so he started to focus his attention on contours, light and form, and began to do sketches. He did not realize that he was color blind until he underwent a physical checkup when he applied for entrance examinations to join the military and police force. Out of self-pity, he developed a rebellious mentality and sparred with people whenever there was a chance, which eventually led him to eight years of imprisonment. Yet his family never gave up on him, and his then-girlfriend became his present wife. After being put behind bars, he resolved to pick up his paintbrushes again, turning tribal stories into subjects of his creativity.
Since he started painting again, he has created 70 paintings to this day. He published Maca Ki Umu (Eyes of Grandpa), a picture book, last year. This year he used his parents’ romantic relationship in the mountains as the storyline for his artwork, which has been reproduced on the interior of some of Taipei’s Metro cars. His latest work appeared in Pingtung’s Rinari Village. The Formosan clouded leopard and the piercing gaze of a tribal elder on the wall seem to implore visitors to respect the village culture. The richness of his cultural signification and colors is impressive.
Taugadhu says it was after his wife encouraged him to paint with colors that he began to do so, but since he is color blind, he does not have to deal with dilemmas over color selections, and therefore has more freedom to indulge his creativity.
Photo: Chiu Chih-jou, Taipei Times
照片:自由時報記者邱芷柔攝
Taugadhu says that when he was one year old he moved from Old Kucapungane to New Kucapungane with his people. Several typhoons later, the new village, which was right by a riverside, was also in imminent danger. Then Typhoon Morakot hit Taiwan and the entire village was flooded, so they moved to the current location, Rinari Village. Wherever he went, especially when he was at the lowest point in his life, the encouraging words of his parents and elders always whispered in his ear, and that was what made him pick up his paintbrushes again to pass down stories of his people to future generations.
(Liberty Times, translated by Ethan Zhan)
魯凱族藝術家杜寒菘從小就喜歡畫畫,但用色常常出錯,所以他更專心把注意力放在線條、光線和造型上,並開始以素描作畫。一直到想要報考軍警時,做了體檢,才發現原來自己是色盲。當時因為自卑產生了叛逆心態,到處逞兇鬥狠, 還換來八年牢獄。但他的家人從不放棄他,當時的女友也成為現在的老婆。人生受到禁錮後,讓他決心重拾畫筆,把部落的故事轉化成創作題材。
杜寒菘重拾畫筆,至今畫了逾七十幅畫,去年出版繪本故事「伍姆的嘛喳」,今年更以父母在山林傳情的故事為主軸作畫,榮登台北捷運車廂;最新的畫作則出現在屏東的禮納里部落。牆上的雲豹及部落長輩銳利的目光,像是在告誡旅人尊重部落文化一般。豐富的文化意涵與色彩讓人驚艷。
杜寒菘說,在老婆的鼓勵下,他開始為畫作上色。因為色盲,所以更沒有選色問題,能更自由的揮灑。
杜寒菘也表示,他一歲時就隨著族人從舊好茶部落遷到新好茶部落。經過多次風災,在河床邊的新部落岌岌可危;一直到了莫拉克襲台,整個好茶被淹沒後,才搬到了現在的禮納里。他不管到了哪裡,尤其人生最低潮時期,耳邊總是會出現父母親、部落長輩用族語鼓勵他的話,所以他重拾畫筆,希望把部落的故事傳承下去。
(自由時報記者邱芷柔)
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