Sanka

In Taiwan, no matter what religion, various rituals are held after death. Folklore has a saying that the past life will return in the form of an insect on the seventh day after death. Therefore, even when insects are seen during funerals, they are often believed to be incarnations of the story and are often not driven away or killed.

In addition, at funerals, relatives or friends will burn the clothes of the deceased, large amounts of paper money, and houses and daily items made of paper to pray that the deceased will live a peaceful and prosperous life in the afterlife.

I was born into a Taoist family and attended countless devotional funerals from urinals. Whenever I see people burning paper for the dead, and the scenes of insects flying around flames, I always think of “Fire Dance” from the speedboat. The work depicts moths and sparks flying in a dark space in exquisite colors.

Shan Hua was inspired by the experience of attending a funeral in Taiwan, and inspired by my own experience of attending a funeral in Taiwan. The withering sunflowers in the painting symbolize death, while the dancing butterflies and moths below symbolize the souls of the dead who returned at the funeral. In addition, in the landscape, the pattern of paper money burned for the dead is tacitly depicted. I wish to express the thoughts and blessings of those who died in religious funerals in Taiwan through a hazy atmosphere.

Pure Gold Mud Dyed Petals

Received the Fukui Prefectural Long Prize at the 35th Miyahama Art Exhibition.