PHOTOGRAPHY／ShaoWei
The Silent Spring of Tranquility is Coming
If aromatherapy is seen as a photosynthesis of the body, mind, and soul, then art can also be a nurturing force, caring for all things like a green bell. Artworks go beyond mere beauty. This year, at the ART TAIPEI international art fair, the exhibition "Silent Spring" took inspiration from the significant literary work of American marine biologist Rachel Carson. German artist Matthias Garff participated by ingeniously combining waste with animal imagery, while Taiwanese embroidery artist Chen Sheng-Wen collected garbage materials from beach and mountain cleanups. Both artists aim to provoke reflection and inspire change through their artworks.
"Art is not just a means to create wealth in the secondary market; I firmly believe that it can be a positive force for shaping society and the world." Curating the exhibition around environmental issues is, in essence, a return to its original purpose.
As the director of YIRI ARTS, Orton Huang passionately advocates for artworks that address environmental and social issues. He believes that art holds both belief and power, and that each artist's life experiences can offer unique inspirations. He points to the example of Tokyo artist Chim Pon, who ventured into the Fukushima disaster area after the nuclear catastrophe, leading the affected people in cheer with his work "KI-AI 100" (100 Cheers). Orton was also deeply moved by the work of Osamu Matsuda, whom he encountered during a trip to Tokyo. Matsuda's seemingly wax-made beautiful European cherub turned out to be sculpted from waste grease found inside a sewer. In his private space, Orton exhibits sculptures by Chen Yu-Erh: a manatee embracing a boy, and a polar bear carrying a boy on its back, evoking feelings of humility in the face of human vulnerability and insignificance.
As YIRI ARTS enters its tenth year, its goal is internationalization. The upcoming "Free Art Fair" aims to attract more international artists and enthusiasts, with the vision of one day creating a Japan international art festival-scale event. YIRI's clear values shape a unique tone, conveying a continuous love for nature, aesthetics, and life through deep and light brushstrokes.