Continuing the exploration of emotional states and human connections in an artistic context, Lin Yi-Pei sees her creative process as an unfolding book centered on themes of 'emotion,' 'life,' and 'time.' Through her artwork, she delves into the anxieties people grapple with while navigating their worth within relationships today.
In her exhibition titled 'Preface: Trace Foretime Back' Lin Yi-Pei reflects on her personal journey through a preface-like approach. Looking back, she examines how traditional family norms constrained two generations of women, aiming to bridge the gap with her mother, who faced societal expectations rooted in gender norms. The intent is to confront past pains and unmet yearnings, seeking healing and closure.
The recurring floral patterns present in Lin Yi-Pei's earlier works trace back to her mother's profession as a seamstress before marriage. Post-wedlock, societal pressures and traditional gender roles led her mother to embrace full-time homemaking due to economic strains and the prevailing notion of 'men as providers and women as homemakers.' Despite this, Lin Yi-Pei's mother persisted in her hobby of crafting clothing and decorations from floral fabrics during her leisure hours. Lin Yi-Pei grew up surrounded by countless floral patterns, etching these memories deeply within her childhood recollections while affirming the emotional constraints arising from her upbringing within a patriarchal household.
Her 2023 series introduces a shift: the familiar repetitive motifs and floral fabrics from earlier works transition into tangible textiles. These materials integrate the weaving techniques passed down from her mother, intertwining with her ongoing use of oil painting as a medium. Continuing her approach of feminine lyrical painting, symbolic objects, and flat spatial dimensions, Lin Yi-Pei's artwork transforms visuals into an elegant yet fading and enigmatic stroke. This deliberate approach aims to communicate the dynamics and psychological states between individuals to observers, intertwining subconscious emotional cues. The aspiration is to recreate and reimagine these transient moments of perception within the canvas. The fusion of oil paint and woven fabrics brings forth a visual experience distinct from prior works, offering depth, visual tactility, and the comforting warmth of hand-sewn needlework.
Even within a society advocating gender equality, women grapple with various societal and personal challenges. Lin Yi-Pei's body of work chronicles the perpetual self-assessment and ongoing battles faced by women in both social and emotional spheres. It delves into their continual struggle and internal conflicts, especially within the intricate dynamics of intimate relationships. The aim is to prompt viewers to reassess the prevalent emotional consciousness in modern society or tap into deeply submerged emotional currents. This exhibition serves as reflections of the artist's inner self, capturing fleeting moments overlooked by self-awareness, yet gaining significance through the audience's interpretation.
