Page 107 - 第23屆大墩美展專輯電子書

Juror’s Statement, Oil Painting Category

LIAO Pen-Shen

“Da Dun Fine Arts Exhibition” is an excellent brand of Taichung, as grey and white streets and buildings without colors symbolize the absence
well as an indicator for all competition exhibitions in Taiwan. Therefore, of warmth in the living spaces of modern people. Without emotions, only
it has become an international stage on which art practitioners compete the signs on the ground remain to usher us into a loveless city.
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annually. This year marks the 23 anniversary of Da Dun Fine Arts
Exhibition, and this is truly an impressive feat. The five winners of Award of Merit are all impressive works.
Two submissions from abroad missed out on the First Prize due to their
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The Oil Painting Category of the 23 Da Dun Fine Arts Exhibition smaller sizes, which led to weaker visual impact.
received 259 submissions, with 51 of the submissions coming from
overseas. Mr. SU Hsien-Fa, Mr. LIN Chin-Hsien, Mr. KUO Po-Chou, Mr. “Real Understanding” is a work by TSAI Yuan-Huan, an artist
CHU Yu-Yi, and myself served as jurors. After the preliminary selection, with rich competition experience. This is a solid work, but has too many
40 works were selected to enter the secondary selection, including 10 deliberate decorations, making the work dull, as it lacks sense of space.
foreign submissions. Only 36 of the 40 works were physically submitted
for the secondary selection. After careful and meticulous examination “Lotus” is a work of new realism by TENG Chun-Ying, which
and voting by the five jurors, the top three prize-winners, five winners depicts the life story of lotus. The work showcases intricate technique;
of Award of Merit, and 27 short-listed works were selected; a total of 35 however, it lacks substance and seems a bit dull.
entries were recognized, among them were six outstanding works from
abroad. “Should We Celebrate?” by PAN Chia-Ling is also a work of new
realism; it depicts an abandoned factory, and reminisces its past glory
First Prize-winner “Bluebird with Happiness II” by TSAI Han- from its current barren state. This theme, however, is quite common in
Ting is a classical-realist work, and the method with which she depicts recent competitions, and lacks that sense of novelty.
the inner struggles of the dancer is very delicate. With three bluebirds,
veil, and roses with thorns, the artist illustrates the fear and anxiety the “Break in 42” by LIU Yi-Fang is a work I am especially fond of. The
dancer has when making compromise between dream and reality. The intricate arrangement of virtual and real elements remains disciplined,
artist showcases steady composition and matured technique of color and the use of colors are suitable. The alternating warm and cold color
application, putting much effort in creating atmospheric aesthetics. This shades give the work a chaotic feeling, while keeping it interesting; this
is a work that has rich contents and complete expressions. also allows viewers room to breathe. It is an impressive work; however,
the size is too small.
Second Prize goes to “Reading the Landscape” by YANG Yi-
Syuan. This is a new realist work; the painting is given a stronger sense Overall, the entries at this year's Da Dun Fine Arts Exhibition
of solitude through perspectives. Black-and-white fruit garden seems demonstrate high artistic level, and feature diverse themes. However,
like an old photo portraying a rural village that is gradually becoming two-thirds of the prize-winning works are realist paintings, while the
deserted. When young people, who went to cities in pursuit of career other one-third are figurative paintings; there is not a single abstract
developments, return to countryside, they are like tourists, and all that painting. This may be the only short-coming of this exhibition. A top-
remain from their past are the memories. tier international competition should embrace a broader range and more
diverse styles and themes, in order to attract more artists to participate.
WONG Hio-Chit won the Third Prize with work “Silent de Morais,” This is my opinion and suggestion, and I hope that the organizer can keep
which is also a realist work that depicts the indifference of cities. Quiet this in mind in the future.

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